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