Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-834 WAC, Midwives. The department of health (department) is considering creating new rule sections and amending existing sections to implement SSB 5765 (chapter 289, Laws of 2022). This bill creates two levels of limited prescriptive license extension for midwives to prescribe, obtain, and administer medications and therapies for the prevention and treatment of common prenatal and postpartum conditions, family planning methods, medical devices and implants. The bill also gives the secretary the authority to establish education requirements. The department will also replace gendered terms with gender-neutral terms throughout the chapter. The department intends to open the complete chapter for these potential revisions.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SSB 5765 creates two new credentials for limited prescriptive license extensions for midwives. Rules may be needed for the new license extensions to specify processes for applicants to meet education and training requirements. Amended rules will also replace gendered language with gender-neutral terms throughout the chapter and update the legend drugs and devices that allowed for the license extensions.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kathy Weed, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98604-7852, phone 360-236-4883, fax 360-236-2910, TTY 711, email kathy.weed@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.