SENATE BILL REPORT

                           EHB 2193

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                       FEBRUARY 24, 1994

Brief Description:  Exempting certain renal disease facilities from health care assistant licensing requirements.

SPONSORS: Representatives Veloria, Lisk and Dyer

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Erwin, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, L. Smith and Winsley.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786‑7198)

Hearing Dates: February 24, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Health care assistants are unlicensed persons who assist a licensed health provider in providing health care to patients.

By law, health care assistants can be certified by a health care facility to administer injections and perform minor invasive procedures under the supervision of a health care practitioner in accordance with requirements established by the Secretary of the Department of Health.  The health care facility must provide the licensing authority with a certified roster of health care assistants who have been certified by the Health Care Authority and must pay certification fees.

The Department of Health has exempted federally approved end-stage renal dialysis facilities from the requirements of certification because their health care assistants already meet federally-approved training standards.  However, because of an Attorney General Opinion, this exemption is not clear.

SUMMARY:

Federally approved end-stage renal facilities are expressly exempt from the requirements of certification and the payment of certification fees.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

This language is needed to clarify the law.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Velma Veloria, prime sponsor; Chris Blagg, NW Kidney Centers; Beverly Teeter, DOH