WSR 15-07-033

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 11, 2015, 11:31 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-919-601, the medical quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-919-601(5) to propose criteria for determining which entities may accredit or certify a facility in which a physician performs a surgical procedure.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.71.017.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission will consider revising WAC 246-919-601(5) to eliminate the list of entities and instead identify the criteria the commission will use to approve entities that facilities must be accredited or certified by before surgery may take place. The commission may also add an appeals process. The proposed rule will allow the commission flexibility in a rapidly changing landscape to add or delete entities from a list maintained by the commission using the criteria rather than using the rule-making process.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Washington state department of health licenses ambulatory surgical facilities (ASF) under chapters 70.230 RCW and 246-330 WAC. The commission will keep the department's ASF program apprised of the process and provide draft rules for comment.

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. Interested parties may participate in the development of draft rules prior to a formal proposal by joining the commission's rules listserv, attending workshops, and providing input on draft and proposed materials. Interested parties can receive information on how to participate by contacting Daidria Pittman, Program Manager, Medical Quality Assurance Commission, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866, phone (360) 236-2727, fax (360) 236-2795, e-mail daidria.pittman@doh.wa.gov.

March 11, 2015

Melanie de Leon

Executive Director