DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed October 18, 2023, 7:42 a.m., effective November 18, 2023]

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

Purpose: Health equity continuing education (CE) for genetic counselors. The department of health (department) amended WAC 246-825-110 to require two hours of health equity CE every three years. Health equity CE programs must meet or exceed the standards created in the department's model rules in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830. The adopted rule exceeds standards in the department's model rules by requiring the two hours every three years instead of every four years. The new health equity CE requirement does not add to the total CE hours required to renew the license. Allowing genetic counselors to take health equity training as part of their existing CE requirements and aligning it with the existing three year CE interval makes it less burdensome on the profession.

The adopted rule implements the requirements of ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021). Codified in RCW 43.70.613, the statute directed the rule-making authority for each health profession licensed under Title 18 RCW and subject to CE to adopt rules requiring a minimum of two hours of health equity CE every four years. The statute also directed the department to create the model rules establishing minimum standards for health equity CE programs, which were filed on December 16, 2022, under WSR 23-01-097.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-825-110.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.290.020, 43.70.613, 43.70.040, 18.130.040.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-12-091 on June 6, 2023.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager, Genetic Counselors, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-2912, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email kimboi.shadduck@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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: October 18, 2023.

Kristin Peterson, JD

for Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-22-090, filed 11/1/10, effective 11/1/10)

WAC 246-825-110Continuing education.

(1) Licensed genetic counselors must complete a minimum total of ((seventy-five))75 continuing education hours or 7.5 continuing education units (CEUs) every three years following the first license renewal. One contact hour equals 0.1 CEU. Of the total hours required for each reporting cycle:

(a) Each licensee must complete at least two hours or 0.2 CEUs of health equity training in compliance with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830. This requirement shall begin at the end of a licensee's second full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2024, or the second full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later;

(b) No more than ((fifteen))15 continuing education hours or 1.5 CEUs may be earned for professional development activity credits ((within a reporting cycle))in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) Professional development activities include, but are not limited to:

(a) Teaching or providing clinical supervision; authoring or coauthoring an article or chapter in peer-review journal; genetics education outreach; leadership activities.

(b) Lecturing or instructing professional groups.

Multiple credits shall not be given to presenters for multiple presentations of the same program.

(3) Practice-based competency courses or programs may consist of postgraduate studies, seminars, lectures, workshops (including distance learning), and professional conferences. Practice-based competencies include, but are not limited to:

(a) Communication - convey detailed genetic information to diverse audiences clearly and concisely while bridging cultural, socioeconomic and educational difference.

(b) Critical thinking - perform complicated risk calculations; evaluate medical, family and psychosocial histories; distill genetic and psychosocial information; participate in diagnostic evaluations; and develop effective case management plan.

(c) Interpersonal counseling, and psychosocial assessment - use an empathetic approach to identify a patient's concerns, clarify beliefs and values, promote preventative health measures and facilitate informed decision making.

(d) Professional ethics and values.

(4) Courses and programs accredited or approved by the following organizations qualify for continuing education credit for licensed genetic counselors.

(a) ABGC;

(b) ABMG;

(d) Other courses or programs as approved by the secretary.

(5) Continuing education contact hours or CEUs may not be carried over from one reporting cycle to another.

(6) A genetic counselor may request an extension or to be excused from meeting the continuing education requirements due to illness or other extenuating circumstances.