WSR 14-15-102 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [Filed July 18, 2014, 2:52 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-834 WAC, Elements of care by midwives for the newborn, the department of health is opening sections in this chapter to include elements of care, including screening tests, vaccinations, and other elements of care, for the newborn up to two weeks of age (implementing 2SHB 1773).
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.50.135 and 18.50.115, 2SHB 1773 (chapter 187, Laws of 2014), and SHB 2544 (chapter 18, Laws of 2014).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: 2SHB 1773 amends RCW 18.50.010 to allow midwives to perform care for a newborn up to two weeks of age. Elements of care have not previously been addressed in statute or rule. Historically, newborns were not mentioned in the rule because they were not considered to be a separate patient from the mother. It may now be necessary to specify what midwives can or cannot do as part of the care for a newborn up to two weeks of age, including screening tests as required by SHB 2544, vaccinations, and other elements of care.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Department of Health, Midwifery Program, Kathy Weed, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 236-4883, kathy.weed@doh.wa.gov. Interested stakeholders may sign up for the program's listserv at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=MIDWIFERY&X=122A834CE747602B26&Y. All rule-making notices will be e-mailed to the program's interested parties list (listserv) and appropriate state associations. Rule drafting will take place in open public meetings where comments will be accepted verbally and in writing.
July 18, 2014
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
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