Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-836-080 Continuing competency program. The board of naturopathy (board) is considering amendments to the continuing education rules for naturopathic physicians to ensure that adequate quantity and quality of continuing education courses are available to meet requirements for each category. Topics that will be considered include pharmacology requirements, accredited organizations, and reporting clarification in response to several rule petitions. Additionally, amendments to address the legislative mandate to create a health equity continuing education requirement will be considered.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In response to several rule petitions received, the board is considering amendments to update and provide further clarification to the continuing competency education rules. The requests included the desire to add more entities to the accrediting organizations and clarify the pharmacology requirements and reporting. The board has issued an interpretive statement (IS #BON 21-01) to temporarily address the pharmacology concern. Permanent changes are needed to clarify requirements.

In addition, the board plans to use this rule project to meet the mandate in the recently passed ESSB 5229, codified as RCW 43.70.613, which requires adoption of continuing education in health equity for health care professionals by January 1, 2024. The board intends to determine where the required health equity hours will fit with the other potential changes to the categories.

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 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4941, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email susan.gragg@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov/naturopathy,https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Additional comments: The board will use the existing GovDelivery list to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. Interested parties can join the GovDelivery list to get information on participating in the process by subscribing at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.