DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Washington Medical Commission)

[Filed December 3, 2024, 12:38 p.m., effective January 3, 2025]

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

Purpose: Military spouse temporary practice license; WAC 246-918-076 (physician assistants) and 246-919-397 (allopathic physicians), How to obtain an expedited temporary license—Military spouse.

The Washington medical commission adopted amendments to WAC 246-918-076 and 246-919-397 to align with the provisions of 2SHB 1009 (chapter 165, Laws of 2023), also known as the Military Spouse Employment Act, codified under RCW 18.340.020. These amendments streamline the license process for military spouses, ensuring consistency with state legislation and improving overall clarity and efficiency in the application process.

The adopted amendments clarify the requirements, emphasize the expedited nature of the license process, align the terminology by changing "permit" to "license" in accordance with the bill, refine the terminology, remove outdated requirements, update definitions, and update the section title.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-918-076 and 246-919-397.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.130.050.

Other Authority: 2SHB 1009 (chapter 165, Laws of 2023), codified under RCW 18.340.020.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-18-041 on August 27, 2024.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: October 11, 2024.

Washington Medical Commission

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-18-097, filed 9/6/17, effective 10/7/17)

WAC 246-918-076How to obtain ((a))an expedited temporary ((practice permit))license—Military spouse.

A military spouse ((or state registered domestic partner of a military person)) may receive ((a))an expedited temporary ((practice permit))license while completing any specific additional requirements that are not related to training or practice standards for physician assistants under the following conditions.

(1) ((A))An expedited temporary ((practice permit))license may be issued to an applicant who is a military spouse ((or state registered domestic partner of a military person)) and:

(a) Is moving to Washington as a result of the military person's transfer to the state of Washington;

(b) ((Left employment in another state to accompany the military person to Washington;

(c))) Holds an unrestricted, active license in another state or United States territory that ((has))the commission currently deems to have substantially equivalent licensing standards for a physician assistant ((to those)) in the state of Washington; and

(((d)))(c) Is not subject to any pending investigation, charges, or disciplinary action by the regulatory body ((of the))in any other state or ((states))United States territory in which the applicant holds a license.

(2) ((A))An expedited temporary ((practice permit))license grants the ((individual))applicant the full scope of practice for the physician assistant.

(3) ((A))An expedited temporary practice ((permit))license expires when any one of the following occurs:

(a) ((The))A full or limited license is ((granted))issued to the applicant;

(b) A notice of decision on the application is mailed to the applicant, unless the notice of decision on the application specifically extends the duration of the expedited temporary ((practice permit))license; or

(4) To receive ((a))an expedited temporary ((practice permit))license, the applicant must:

(a) ((Submit to the commission the necessary application, fee(s), fingerprint card if required, and documentation for the license;

(b) Attest on the application that the applicant left employment in another state to accompany the military person;

(c))) Meet all requirements and qualifications for the license that are specific to the training, education, and practice standards for physician assistants;

(((d) Provide verification of having an active unrestricted license in the same profession from another state that has substantially equivalent licensing standards as a physician assistant in Washington;

(e)))(b) Submit a written request for a temporary practice permit; and

(i) The military-issued identification card showing the military person's information and the applicant's relationship to the military person;

(ii) A marriage license; or

(iii) A state registered domestic partnership((; and

(f) Submit a written request for a temporary practice permit)).

(5) For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "Military spouse" ((means the husband, wife,))is someone married to or in a registered domestic ((partner of))partnership with a military person((.))who is serving in the United States Armed Forces, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, or the Merchant Marine of the United States; and

(b) "Military person" means a person serving in the United States Armed Forces, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, or the Merchant Marine of the United States.

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

WAC 246-919-397How to obtain ((a))an expedited temporary ((practice permit))license—Military spouse.

(1) ((A))An expedited temporary ((practice permit))license may be issued to an applicant who is a military spouse ((or state registered domestic partner of a military person)) and:

(a) Is moving to Washington as a result of the military person's transfer to the state of Washington;

(b) ((Left employment in another state to accompany the military person to Washington;

(2) ((A))An expedited temporary ((practice permit))license grants the ((individual))applicant the full scope of practice for the physician.

(3) ((A))An expedited temporary ((practice permit))license expires when any one of the following occurs:

(a) ((The))A full or limited license is ((granted))issued to the applicant;

(4) To receive ((a))an expedited temporary ((practice permit))license, the applicant must:

(a) ((Submit to the commission the necessary application, fee(s), fingerprint card if required, and documentation for the license;

(b) Attest on the application that the applicant left employment in another state to accompany the military person;

(c))) Meet all requirements and qualifications for the license that are specific to the training, education, and practice standards for physicians;

(((d) Provide verification of having an active unrestricted license in the same profession from another state that has substantially equivalent licensing standards for physicians in Washington;

(e)))(b) Submit a written request for a temporary practice permit; and

(i) The military-issued identification card showing the military person's information and the applicant's relationship to the military person;

(ii) A marriage license; or

(iii) Documentation of a state registered domestic partnership.

(((f) Submit a written request for a temporary practice permit.))

(5) For the purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:

(b) "Military person" means a person serving in the United States Armed Forces, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, or the Merchant Marine of the United States.