WSR 23-17-085

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed August 15, 2023, 10:57 a.m., effective September 15, 2023]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Health equity continuing education (CE) training for acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners. RCW 43.70.613 (3)(b) directed the rule-making authority or each health profession licensed under Title 18 RCW that is subject to CE to adopt rules requiring a licensee to complete health equity CE training at least once every four years. The statute also directed the department of heath (department) to create model rules establishing the minimum standards for health equity CE programs. The department filed model rules for health equity CE minimum standards on November 23, 2022, under WSR 22-23-167. Any rules developed for the acupuncture and Eastern medicine program must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the model rules in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.

The department is adopting new WAC 246-803-425 to implement ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021). The department is adopting the health equity model rules, WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830, for acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners to comply with RCW 43.70.613. The adopted rule adds two hours of health equity education, as required in the model rules, to be completed as part of the current CE requirements every four years.

The adopted rule does not change the total CE hours but requires two hours in health equity every four years which is absorbed into the existing number of CE hours required. The health equity CE requirements is counted under existing, unspecified CE requirements for the profession.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-803-425.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.06.160, 43.70.040, 43.70.613, and 18.130.040.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-10-066 on May 2, 2023.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Vicki Brown, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-235-4865, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email vicki.brown@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: August 15, 2023.

Kristin Peterson, JD

Chief of Policy

for Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH

Secretary

OTS-4402.1