SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5658

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 27, 1991

Brief Description:  Authorizing the confidential use of accident reports by the Washington state medical disciplinary board.

SPONSORS:Senator West; by request of Department of Health.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Staff:  Scott Plack (786‑7409)

Hearing Dates:March 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

In 1987 the Legislature authorized the Medical Disciplinary Board to establish an impaired physician program.  The program grants the board authority to have physicians evaluated for alcoholism and other conditions if it has reasonable cause to believe that such conditions impair the provider's ability to practice.  Currently, the board does not have the authority to obtain a copy of the driver license records of physicians in order to identify driver related alcohol offenses as yet another means of identifying suspected impaired physicians.

SUMMARY:

The state Medical Disciplinary Board is granted authority to obtain a copy of a physician's driving record to assist it in identifying impaired physicians.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available