Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-854 WAC, Osteopathic physician assistants, the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery (board) is considering establishing two new sections of rule to: (1) Describe the process for issuing an expedited temporary practice permit to an osteopathic physician assistant (PA) applicant who is a spouse or registered domestic partner of a military service member, and (2) establish return to practice requirements for an osteopathic PA who has not been in practice for a certain period of time.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board completed the review of the osteopathic PA chapter of rules at their September 28, 2018, business meeting and determined that two new sections of rule need consideration. RCW 18.340.020 requires health profession disciplining authorities to establish procedures to expedite temporary practice permits for military spouses or a registered domestic partner of a military service member. The board is also considering creating a new section to establish re-entry to practice requirements for an osteopathic PA who has been out of practice for a period of time to ensure that the osteopathic PA is properly qualified to resume providing patient care.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Susan Gragg, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4941, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email susan.gragg@doh.wa.gov, web site www.doh.wa.gov.