Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-976-010 through 246-976-310, 246-976-330 through 246-976-400, 246-976-890, 246-976-920, 246-976-960 and 246-976-970, Emergency medical services (EMS) and trauma care systems. The department of health (department) is considering updating the EMS sections of the chapter to align with current national standards, improve timelines for application processes, and respond to new legislative requirements. New sections may be added as required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.70.040, 18.71.205, 18.73.081, 70.168.050. ESSB 5751 (chapter 70, Laws of 2017), SHB 1258 (chapter 295, Laws of 2017), ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020), ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021), SSB 5380 (chapter 314, Laws of 2019), SHB 1276 (chapter 69, Laws of 2021), SHB 1893 (chapter 136, Laws of 2022).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is opening WAC 246-976-010 through 246-976-310, 246-976-330 through 246-976-400, 246-976-890, 246-976-920, 246-976-960 and 246-976-970 to: (1) Propose updates to align with current national standards; (2) make rules more clear, concise, and organized; (3) propose changes to address barriers to initial and renewal application processes for prehospital services licenses and EMS provider certification; (4) reduce barriers to obtain recognition as a senior EMS instructor; (5) clarify roles and responsibilities for medical program directors, local and regional EMS and trauma care councils; (6) clarify staffing standards for EMS services authorized to use nonmedically trained drivers to implement ESSB 5751; (7) update education requirements for certified EMS providers to implement SHB 1258, ESHB 1551, and ESSB 5229; (8) clarify licensing standards for EMS services for reporting to the statewide EMS data registry and roles and responsibilities for medical program directors, and regional councils to implement SSB 5380; (9) propose minimum standards for emergency services supervisory organizations to use certified EMS providers to implement SHB 1276; and (10) clarify scope of practice for certified EMS providers and propose minimum standards for provisional certification of EMS providers to implement SHB 1893.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Catie Holstein, P.O. Box 47853, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-2841, fax 360-236-2830, TTY 711, email catie.holstein@doh.wa.gov, website https://doh.wa.gov; or Jill Hayes, P.O. Box 47853, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-2830, fax 360-236-2830, TTY 711, email jill.hayes@doh.wa.gov, website https://doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties may participate in the development of draft rules prior to a formal proposal by joining the interested parties list (GovDelivery) at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new, and may provide input on draft and proposed materials. Interested parties may receive information on how to participate by contacting Catie Holstein, EMS manager, at department of health.