FINAL BILL REPORT

                     SHB 2048

                                 C 229 L 91

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Lowering licensing fees for older physicians.

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).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  Currently, physicians and 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.  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 state Board of Pharmacy regulates the practice of pharmacy.  Pharmacy owners, pharmacists, drug manufacturers and owners of drug wholesale businesses must obtain a license to practice. Itinerant vendors who 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 their license renewal or registration fee to avoid 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 $10 to $50 to the board.

Summary:  State professional disciplinary authorities of 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 license or registration renewal 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.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 97    0

Senate   44    0     (Senate amended)

House 94    0     (House concurred)

Effective:     July 28, 1991