This memo serves as notice that the Washington medical commission (commission) is withdrawing the CR-101 for WAC 246-919-XXX allopathic physicians and 246-918-XXX allopathic physician assistants. The commission was considering creating new rule sections to regulate the use of telemedicine. The CR-101 was filed September 17, 2019, and published in WSR 19-19-072.

The commission's telemedicine rules workgroup received numerous comments for consideration that raised concerns that the adoption of rules may be premature at this stage due to legislative changes that have occurred and anticipated changes due in the next legislative sessions.

HB 1196 (chapter 157, Laws of 2021) which created audio only telemedicine billing also mandated a report due November 2021 from the Washington state telemedicine collaborative that will provide substantive recommendations on how a patient-practitioner relationship may be established via telemedicine. Rather than place the rules process on hold for what could be a significant period of time, the commission is rescinding the CR-101 until such a time as the statutory changes and technology questions are more settled. The commission may consider filing a new CR-101 at that time.