Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-803-990, 246-809-990, 246-810-990, 246-815-990, 246-817-990, 246-817-99005, 246-828-990, 246-845-990, 246-915-990, 246-915-99005, 246-930-990, and 246-980-990, fees amendments are being considered by the department of health (department) for the following professions: Acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner, licensed mental health counselor, licensed advanced social worker and licensed independent clinical social worker, certified counselor, certified adviser, registered agency affiliated counselor (excluding interns), dental hygienist, dentist, registered dental assistant, certified dental anesthesia assistant, licensed expanded function dental auxiliary, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, hearing aid specialist, speech-language pathology assistant, nursing pool operator, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, sex offender treatment provider, affiliate treatment provider certificate, and home care aide. Additional updates may be considered to ensure clarity and consistency of fees that are standard across all professions.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 43.70.250 requires that the costs of licensing each profession be fully borne by members of that profession. The office of financial management also requires professions to maintain a reasonable cash reserve to cover fluctuations in cash flow. Rule making is needed to ensure the department is in line with RCW 43.70.250 and the fees set are sufficient to cover the costs of licensing the professions.

The department received a petition from the Washington acupuncture and Eastern medicine association board requesting the department to lower the licensure fees for acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners. The department will consider this request as part of this rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Heather Cantrell, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, phone 360-236-4637, TTY 711, email HSQAfeerules@doh.wa.gov, website https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates, https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Additional comments: The department will use the existing GovDelivery list to inform stakeholders 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.