HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1527

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to mandatory continuing education credit.

Brief Description:  Allowing mandatory continuing medical education credit in the area of professional liability risk management.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Braddock, Moyer, Sprenkle, Edmondson, R. Meyers, Franklin and Zellinsky.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 14, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 98-0;

Passed Legislature, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Minority Member; Casada, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Edmondson; Franklin; Morris; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Physicians must meet requirements for continuing education established by rules of the Board of Medical Examiners as a prerequisite for renewal of licenses.  Current rules make no specific reference to courses in safe practice.

Summary of Bill:  The board is required to provide in its rules that completion of approved activities relating to professional liability risk management can be credited toward the continuing education requirement.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  It is important for the Medical Examining Board to emphasize the availability of courses in safe practice as credit toward continuing education requirements, so that physicians can avoid legal liability for medical malpractice.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Mel Sorensen, The Doctors' Company (Pro).