Subject of Possible Rule Making: Medical assistant medication administration requirements and apprenticeship programs. The department of health (department) is considering rule amendments to WAC 246-827-0010, 246-827-0200, and 246-827-0240 to align with statutes updated by ESHB 1073 (chapter 134, Laws of 2023) and ESSB 5983 (chapter 248, Laws of 2024), and ensure that the rules are current and align with best practices. The department will also consider adding new WAC 246-827-0340 to address the medication administration requirements for the medical assistant-registered credential.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.360.030; ESHB 1073 (chapter 134, Laws of 2023), and ESSB 5983 (chapter 248, Laws of 2024).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESHB 1073 updated supervision requirements and the scope of practice for medical assistants. The department is considering amendments to medical assistant rules to align with the updates from ESHB 1073 and establish requirements for medication administration by a medical assistant-registered (MA-R) credential. ESHB 1073 significantly expanded the scope of practice for the MA-R credential, specifically medication administration. A new rule section is necessary to provide guidance regarding routes and supervision levels related to these tasks.

ESSB 5983 lowered the supervision level required for the medical assistant-certified (MA-C) credential and the MA-R credential to provide treatment for known or suspected syphilis infections from "immediate or direct visual" supervision to "telemedicine" supervision. The department is considering amendments to WAC 246-827-0240 and adding new WAC 246-827-0340 to update and align medical administration supervision levels regarding syphilis treatment set by the changes from ESSB 5983.

Additionally, the department is considering updating the MA-C training and certification requirements to expand the types of apprenticeship programs accepted to meet the training requirements. This would allow experienced medical assistants to more easily enter the Washington workforce.

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 medical.assistants@doh.wa.gov.

Additional Comments: All notices will be sent to the public through department distribution lists. Interested parties can join the distribution lists at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.