PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed January 30, 2022, 10:45 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-827-0010, 246-827-0110, 246-827-0120, 246-827-0200, 246-827-0300, 246-827-0400, and 246-827-0610, medical assistants. The department of health (department) is considering rule amendments to several sections of medical assistant rules to update credentialing requirements and ensure that the rules are current and align with best practices. The department will also consider adding a new section to address telemedicine supervision. This filing will supersede a previous filing on this topic under WSR 21-18-101, filed on August 31, 2021.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.360.030, 18.360.040, and 18.360.070.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is considering revisions to seven sections of medical assistant rules to remove outdated language, remove English language requirements, and update credentialing requirements. The department is also considering adding a new section to regulate telemedicine supervision. Amendments may be necessary to remove irrelevant or confusing rule language, which will make the rules more easily understood. Removing the English language requirements will allow non-English proficient persons to enter the medical assistant workforce more easily. The department will consider updating credentialing requirements to allow out-of-state licensing, experience, or training for medical assistant applicants. This would allow experienced medical assistants to more easily enter the Washington workforce. The department will also consider adding an exception to the requirement for completion of high school education or its equivalent for the medical assistant-registered application. The considered exception would be to allow students in a current health education program to obtain the credential. HB 1378 (chapter 44, Laws of 2021) revises RCW 18.360.010 to allow medical assistant supervision via audio and video technology during a telemedicine visit. Rules may be necessary to clarify the use of telemedicine supervision to address what tasks, if any, may be done while the telemedicine connection is not active.

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 by contacting Renee Fullerton, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-2850, TTY 711, email Renee.Fullerton@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: All notices will be sent to the public through the department's distribution lists. Interested parties can join the distribution lists at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Kristin Peterson, JD

for Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH