Purpose: Health equity continuing education (CE) for dental hygienists, WAC 246-815-145. The department of health (department) is adopting a new section of rule to establish health equity CE requirements to implement ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021), codified as 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 directs the 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, which require two hours of training every four years. Any rules developed for dental hygienists 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 246-815-145 to implement ESSB 5229. The department is adopting the health equity model rules, WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830, for dental hygienists 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 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.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Bruce Bronoske Jr., P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4843, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email bruce.bronoske@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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

(1) A licensed dental hygienist 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 licensed dental hygienist completes counts toward meeting the applicable continuing education requirements under WAC 246-815-140.

(3) An approved program providing health equity continuing education training must meet the requirements listed in WAC 246-12-830. For purposes of this rule, health equity has the same meaning as defined in WAC 246-12-810.