SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2048

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,

                                 APRIL 3, 1991

Brief Description:  Lowering licensing fees for older physicians.

SPONSORS: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

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Niemi, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Scott Plack (786‑7409)

Hearing Dates:April 1, 1991; April 3, 1991

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.

Allowing these individuals to practice intermittently could help meet the physician and physician assistant shortage in rural and medically underserved areas of the state.

SUMMARY:

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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The respective disciplinary authorities under the Uniform Disciplinary Act are authorized to establish by rule a "retired active license" for individuals who wish to practice on an emergent or intermittent basis.  The Secretary of Health is to establish reduced fees for these licenses.  The license is conditioned upon meeting continuing education or continuing competency requirements.

The 60-day grace period for failure to renew a license or pay unpaid fees without a penalty is eliminated for pharmacy owners, drug manufacturers, licensed pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and nonprescription drug manufacturers distributing samples.

Registrants under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act may be charged a fee consistent with statutory requirements that members of a profession bear the burden of the actual cost of administering this law.  Registrants may be assessed a penalty for late renewals.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The retired active license may help improve the availability of health care services to rural and medically underserved populations. 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Len Eddinger, WA State Medical Assn. (pro); Marjorie C. Williams, Citizens for Alternative Health Care (pro); Vera J. Ridderbusch, Citizen Advocate