WSR 23-24-033
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Washington Medical Commission)
[Filed November 29, 2023, 4:30 p.m.]
Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2024.
Purpose: Health equity continuing education (CE) training for physician assistants and allopathic physicians. The Washington medical commission (commission) is adopting new WAC 246-918-195 and 246-919-445 to implement ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021). The commission has adopted the health equity model rules, WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830, for physician assistants and allopathic physicians to comply with RCW
43.70.613.
RCW
43.70.613 (3)(b) directs the rule-making authority for 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 health (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 by the commission must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the model rules in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.
The adopted rule adds two hours of health equity education, as required in the model rules, to be completed as part of the current continuing competency requirements every four years. The adopted rule does not change the total CE hours but requires two hours in health equity CE every four years which is absorbed into the existing number of CE hours required. The health equity CE requirement is counted under existing, unspecified CE requirements for the profession.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-918-195 and 246-919-445.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-18-007 on August 23, 2023.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Amelia Boyd, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866, phone 360-918-6336, TTY 711, email medical.rules@wmc.wa.gov, website wmc.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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 20, 2023.
Kyle Karinen
Executive Director
OTS-4644.1
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-918-195Health equity continuing education training requirements.
(1) A physician assistant must complete two hours of health equity continuing education training every four years as described in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.
(2) The two hours of health equity continuing education a physician assistant completes count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements in the same category specified in WAC 246-918-180.
OTS-4643.1
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-919-445Health equity continuing education training requirements.
(1) A physician must complete two hours of health equity continuing education training every four years as described in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.
(2) The two hours of health equity continuing education a physician completes count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements in the same category specified in WAC 246-919-460.