Subject of Possible Rule Making: Osteopathic physicians and surgeons health equity continuing education (CE). The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery (board) is considering amending chapter 246-853 WAC to adopt the health equity CE model rules, WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830, to comply with RCW 43.70.613. The board will also consider whether additional CE hours and course topics should be included.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021), codified as RCW 43.70.613, requires each health profession credentialed under RCW 18.130.040 with a CE requirement to adopt rules requiring completion of health equity CE training at least once every four years.

RCW 43.70.613 (3)(b) directed the department of health (department) to create model rules establishing minimum standards for health equity CE programs. The department adopted rules for health equity CE minimum requirements as WSR 22-23-167 on November 23, 2022. Any rules developed by the board for licensed osteopathic physicians must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the model rules found at WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.

The goal of health equity CE training is to ensure that health care professionals complete health equity training and that the content of the health equity trainings include instruction on skills to address structural factors, such as bias, racism, and poverty, which manifest as health inequities. The objective of requiring health equity training is to enable health care professionals to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups and communities, varying race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion, age, ability, socioeconomic status, and other categories of identity.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Becky McElhiney, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4766, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email osteopathic@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov/osteo.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The board will be conducting rules workshops with interested parties and subject matter experts. The board will use existing GovDelivery lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. A broad approach to engagement was used in the development of the health equity model rules which will be used to include community members, community organizations, and health equity experts in the further development of these rules. To find out more information about our rule making, visit www.doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new?topic_id=WADOH_153 and select "Osteopathic Board."