WSR 21-06-012
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed February 19, 2021, 8:29 a.m., effective February 19, 2021, 8:29 a.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-817-581 Novel coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination, this emergency rule allows dentists to delegate administration of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to licensed dental hygienists with close supervision and demonstration of competency.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-817-581.
Under RCW
34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists are among the essential health providers who can safely administer vaccinations and help address this public health emergency. Mass vaccination across the state will take cooperation and coordination across the entire health system. Dentists and delegated dental hygienists can increase capacity for priority populations who may not otherwise be connected to the traditional health care system during the pandemic. Increased capacity of health care workers administering the COVID-19 vaccine will help Washington end this pandemic. Allowing delegation of COVID-19 vaccination to dental hygienists also assists dentists by reducing their workload to effectively continue providing dental care to patients.
Standard rule making takes approximately nine to twelve months. The rule is necessary for the preservation of public health, safety, and general welfare of dental patients and staff. Observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to protecting immediate public interests.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: January 7, 2021.
Aaron Stevens, DMD, Chairperson
Dental Quality Assurance Commission
OTS-2845.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-817-581Novel coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination.
(1) A supervising dentist may delegate the administration of a vaccination of novel coronavirus disease 2019 to a licensed dental hygienist under the dentist's close supervision, provided the licensed dental hygienist has demonstrated skills necessary to perform the task competently.
(2) For the purpose of administering vaccination for the novel coronavirus disease 2019, a dentist's approval of the vaccination protocol and screening meets the dentist's requirement to diagnose the condition to be treated and personal authorization of the procedure as required by close supervison under WAC 246-817-510(1).
Reviser's note: The spelling error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.