DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Washington Medical Commission)

[Filed June 6, 2024, 2:33 p.m., effective July 7, 2024]

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

Purpose: Post medical training for physicians; the Washington medical commission (commission) has adopted amendments to WAC 246-919-330 to eliminate the outdated requirement for consecutive years of training in no more than two programs. This change will remove a barrier for qualified applicants to obtain licensure.

When effective, this permanent rule will supersede the emergency rule filed on March 8, 2024, as WSR 24-07-019.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-919-330.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.130.050.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-07-107 on March 20, 2024.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Amelia Boyd, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98540-7866, phone 360-918-6336, TTY 711, email amelia.boyd@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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: April 26, 2024.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-22-003, filed 10/21/20, effective 11/21/20)

WAC 246-919-330Postgraduate medical training.

(1) Postgraduate medical training means clinical training approved by the commission in general medicine or surgery, or a specialty or subspecialty in the field of medicine or surgery as recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties listed in the 2017-2018 ABMS Board Certification Report and new specialties or subspecialties approved by the commission.

(2) The commission approves only the following postgraduate clinical training courses:

(a) Programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) at the time of residency.

(b) Programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or programs accredited by the RCPSC or CFPC at the time of residency.

(3) Postgraduate medical training includes, but is not limited to, internships, residencies and medical or surgical fellowships.

(4) A physician must complete two ((consecutive)) years of postgraduate medical training ((in no more than two programs)). The physician must acquire this training after completion of a formal course of undergraduate medical instruction outlined in RCW 18.71.055. The commission will accept only satisfactory clinical performance evaluations.