HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5577

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the board of medical examiners.

Brief Description:  Revising the responsibilities of the board of medical examiners.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators West and Niemi; by request of Department of Health).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Health Care, March 27, 1991, DP;

Passed House, April 11, 1991, 92-0;

Passed Legislature, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: 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:  The state Board of Medical Examiners is responsible for the licensing of medical doctors in the state. Currently, the board is not authorized to form panels or subcommittees for conducting its business.  For administrative purposes, the board is located within the Department of Health.  The secretary of the department is authorized by law to establish licensing fees to cover the costs of administering the regulatory program.

The board currently does not have the authority to grant inactive license status to physicians who no longer wish to stay in active practice.  The inactive license status allows a practitioner to pay a reduced fee during the period of inactive status.

Summary of Bill:  The Board of Medical Examiners may appoint panels comprised of board members to conduct business matters delegated by the board.  A majority of the panel members constitutes a quorum.

The board may adopt rules authorizing an inactive license status for licensed physicians.  The holder of an inactive license may not practice medicine in the state and must pay an inactive renewal fee established by the secretary of the department.  To reactivate the license, the holder must comply with rules adopted by the board and must not have violated any of the provisions of the Uniform Disciplinary Act.  If disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against a physician on inactive status, the license shall not be placed on active status until the proceedings have been completed.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.