HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2048

                  As Amended by the Senate

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 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, a physician or physician assistant must hold a license to practice medicine which must be renewed annually upon the payment of an annual renewal registration fee.

There is no authority for the secretary to issue a license to a physician or physician assistant who is retired and desires to practice only intermittently.

Summary of Bill:  The board by rule is authorized to establish a "retired active license" for retired physicians or physician assistants who wish to practice medicine on an emergent or intermittent basis. The secretary of health is to establish a reduced renewal fee for this license. The license is conditioned upon the meeting of continuing education requirements, and the license holder is subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

This license however may not be given to any person who has entered into an agreement with any disciplinary authority to retire from active practice.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): The professional disciplinary authorities, including the Board of Pharmacy, 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).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 97; Absent 1

Absent:  Representative Scott