HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2048

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to license renewal fees.

Brief Description:  Lowering licensing fees for older physicians.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Moyer, Prentice, Paris, Braddock, Holland, Sprenkle, D. Sommers, Beck, Miller, Nealey, Padden, Winsley, Forner, Silver and Sheldon).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, February 28, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 13, 1991, 97-0;

Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

Passed Legislature, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 2048 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Minority Member; Casada, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cantwell; Edmondson; Franklin; Morris; Paris; Prentice; and Sprenkle.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Currently, physicians as well as the other specified health care practitioners must hold a license issued by the secretary of health in order to practice.  The license can be renewed annually upon the payment of a renewal fee.  By law, the amount of the fee is established by the secretary by rule to cover the administrative costs of the regulatory program.  However, there is no general authority for the secretary to issue a license at a reduced fee to a health practitioner who is retired and desires to practice only intermittently or on an emergency basis.

The practice of pharmacy is regulated by the state Board of Pharmacy, and pharmacy owners, pharmacists, drug manufacturers and owners of drug wholesale businesses must be licensed in order carry out their activities. Itinerant vendors that sell nonprescription drugs must be registered with the board, as well as manufacturers that distribute drug samples.  Owners of pharmacies, pharmacists, drug manufacturers, drug wholesalers, and itinerant vendors have 60 days to pay the fee for the renewal of their license or registration in order to avoid the payment of a penalty fee.  There is no time limit specified for the payment of registration or renewal fees for manufacturers that distribute drug samples, or for pharmacy assistants.

Manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of controlled substances must pay registration fees of from $10 to $50 to the board.

Summary of Bill:  The professional disciplinary authorities of the regulated health professions are authorized to adopt rules establishing a "retired active license status," at reduced renewal fees, for those licensed health practitioners who desire to practice only in emergent or intermittent circumstances.  This license is conditioned upon meeting any continuing education requirements.

Owners of pharmacies, drug manufacturers, drug wholesalers, itinerant vendors of drugs, pharmacists, manufacturers that distribute drugs in this state, and pharmacist assistants must pay the fee for the renewal of the license or registration, respectively, by the date due in order to avoid payment of a penalty fee equal to the renewal fee.  The 60-day grace period for renewing lapsed licenses with the Board of Pharmacy without penalty is repealed for owners of pharmacies, drug manufacturers, drug wholesalers, itinerant vendors, and pharmacists.

Persons registering with the Board of Pharmacy as manufacturers, distributors and dispensers of controlled substances are required to pay a fee, determined by the Board of Pharmacy, not exceeding actual administrative costs.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 22, 1991.

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

Testimony For:  It is important to retain qualified physicians in practice, even if they desire to practice only intermittently when they retire. Currently there is no authority for the board to grant this privilege to retired physicians and physician assistants at reduced license fees.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jan Polek, Medical Disciplinary Board (pro); and William Robertson, Washington State Medical Association (pro).