AN ACT Relating to licensure of physician
assistants; and amending RCW 18.57A.020, 18.57A.030, 18.57A.040, 18.57A.050,
18.71A.020, 18.71A.030, 18.71A.040, and 18.71A.050.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1.
RCW 18.57A.020 and 1992 c 28 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The board shall adopt rules ((and
regulations)) fixing the qualifications and the educational and training
requirements for ((persons who may be employed)) licensure as an
osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant((s)) or ((who may be))
for those enrolled in any ((physician's)) physician assistant
training program. The requirements shall include completion of an
accredited physician assistant training program approved by the board and
eligibility to take an examination approved by the board, providing such
examination tests subjects substantially equivalent to the curriculum of an
accredited physician assistant training program.
(2)(a) The board shall((, in
addition,)) adopt rules ((and regulations)) governing the extent to
which:
(i) Physician(('s)) assistant((s))
students may practice medicine during training; and
(ii) Physician assistants may practice
after successful completion of a training course.
(b) Such ((regulations)) rules
shall provide:
(((1))) (i) That the practice of
an osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant shall be limited to the performance
of those services for which he or she is trained; and
(((2))) (ii) That each
osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant shall practice osteopathic
medicine only under the supervision and control of an osteopathic physician
licensed in this state, but such supervision and control shall not be construed
to necessarily require the personal presence of the supervising physicians
at the place where services are rendered. The board may authorize the use of
alternative supervisors who are licensed either under chapter 18.57 or 18.71
RCW.
(3) Applicants for licensure shall file an
application with the board on a form prepared by the secretary with the approval
of the board, detailing the education, training, and experience of the
physician assistant and such other information as the board may require. The
application shall be accompanied by a fee determined by the secretary as
provided in RCW 43.70.250. Each applicant shall furnish proof satisfactory to
the board of the following:
(a) That the applicant has completed an
accredited physician assistant program approved by the board and is eligible to
take the examination approved by the board;
(b) That the applicant is of good moral
character; and
(c) That the applicant is physically and
mentally capable of practicing osteopathic medicine as an osteopathic physician
assistant with reasonable skill and safety. The board may require any
applicant to submit to such examination or examinations as it deems necessary
to determine an applicant's physical and/or mental capability to safely
practice as an osteopathic physician assistant.
(4) The board may approve, deny, or take
other disciplinary action upon the application for a license as provided in the
uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW. The license shall be renewed on
a periodic basis as determined by the secretary under RCW 43.70.280, upon
payment of a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and
submission of a completed renewal application, in addition to any late renewal
penalty fees as determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250.
Sec. 2.
RCW 18.57A.030 and 1986 c 259 s 95 are each amended to read as follows:
An osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant
as defined in this chapter may practice osteopathic medicine in this state only
((after authorization)) with the approval of the practice arrangement
plan by the board and only to the extent permitted by the board. An
osteopathic physician assistant who has received a license but who has not
received board approval of the practice arrangement plan under RCW 18.57A.040
may not practice. An osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant shall be
subject to discipline by the board under the provisions of chapter 18.130 RCW.
Sec. 3.
RCW 18.57A.040 and 1991 c 3 s 152 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) No osteopathic physician assistant
practicing in this state shall ((utilize the services of an osteopathic
physician's assistant)) be employed or supervised by an osteopathic
physician or physician group without the approval of the board.
((Any)) (2) Prior to commencing
practice, an osteopathic physician assistant licensed in this state
((may)) shall apply to the board for permission to ((use the
services of an osteopathic physician's assistant)) be employed or
supervised by an osteopathic physician or physician group. The ((application))
practice arrangement plan shall be ((accompanied by a fee determined
by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250,)) jointly submitted by
the osteopathic physician or physician group and osteopathic physician
assistant. The secretary may charge a fee as provided in RCW 43.70.250 to
recover the cost for the plan review. The practice arrangement plan shall
((detail)) delineate the manner and extent to which the
physician(('s)) assistant would ((be used)) practice and be
supervised((, shall detail the education, training, and experience of the
osteopathic physician's assistant and shall provide such other information in
such form as the board may require.
The board may approve or reject such
applications. In addition, the board may modify the proposed utilization of
the osteopathic physician's assistant, and approve the application as
modified. No such approval shall extend for more than one year, but approval
once granted may be renewed annually upon payment of a fee determined by the
secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250)).
Whenever ((it appears to the board that)) an osteopathic physician(('s))
assistant is ((being utilized)) practicing in a manner
inconsistent with the ((approval granted)) approved practice
arrangement plan, the board may ((withdraw such approval. In the event
a hearing is requested upon the rejection of an application, or upon the
withdrawal of an approval, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with
chapter 34.05 RCW)) take disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.
Sec. 4.
RCW 18.57A.050 and 1986 c 259 s 97 are each amended to read as follows:
No osteopathic physician who ((uses the
services of an)) supervises a licensed osteopathic physician(('s))
assistant in accordance with and within the terms of any permission granted by
the board shall be considered as aiding and abetting an unlicensed person to
practice osteopathic medicine within the meaning of RCW ((18.57.080)) 18.57.001:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That ((any)) the supervising osteopathic
physician and the osteopathic physician assistant shall retain
professional and personal responsibility for any act which constitutes the
practice of osteopathic medicine as defined in RCW ((18.57.130)) 18.57.001
when performed by ((a physician's)) the physician assistant ((in
his employ)).
Sec. 5.
RCW 18.71A.020 and 1992 c 28 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The board shall adopt rules fixing the
qualifications and the educational and training requirements for ((persons
who may be employed as)) licensure as a physician assistant((s))
or ((who may be)) for those enrolled in any physician assistant
training program. The requirements shall include completion of an accredited
physician assistant training program approved by the board and eligibility to
take an examination approved by the board, provided such examination tests
subjects substantially equivalent to the curriculum of an accredited physician
assistant training program. Physician assistants licensed by the board ((on))
as of June 7, 1990, shall continue to be licensed.
(2)(a) The board shall adopt rules governing
the extent to which:
(i) Physician assistant students may practice
medicine during training; and
(ii) Physician assistants may practice after
successful completion of a physician assistant training course.
(b) Such rules shall provide:
(i) That the practice of a physician assistant
shall be limited to the performance of those services for which he or she is
trained; and
(ii) That each physician assistant shall
practice medicine only under the supervision and control of a physician
licensed in this state, but such supervision and control shall not be construed
to necessarily require the personal presence of the supervising physician or
physicians at the place where services are rendered.
(3) Applicants for licensure shall file an
application with the board on a form prepared by the secretary with the
approval of the board, detailing the education, training, and experience of the
physician assistant and such other information as the board may require. The
application shall be accompanied by a fee determined by the secretary as
provided in RCW 43.70.250. Each applicant shall furnish proof satisfactory to
the board of the following:
(a) That the applicant has completed an
accredited physician assistant program approved by the board and is eligible to
take the examination approved by the board;
(b) That the applicant is of good moral
character; and
(c) That the applicant is physically and
mentally capable of practicing medicine as a physician assistant with
reasonable skill and safety. The board may require an applicant to submit to
such examination or examinations as it deems necessary to determine an applicant's
physical or mental capability, or both, to safely practice as a physician
assistant.
(4) The board may approve, deny, or take
other disciplinary action upon the application for license as provided in the
uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW. The license shall be renewed on
a periodic basis as determined by the secretary under RCW 43.70.280, upon
payment of a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250, and
submission of a completed renewal application, in addition to any late renewal
penalty fees as determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250.
The board may authorize the use of alternative supervisors who are licensed
either under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.
Sec. 6.
RCW 18.71A.030 and 1990 c 196 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
A physician assistant as defined in this
chapter may practice medicine in this state only ((after authorization))
with the approval of the practice arrangement plan by the board and only
to the extent permitted by the board. A physician assistant who has
received a license but who has not received board approval of the practice
arrangement plan under RCW 18.71A.040 may not practice. A physician
assistant shall be subject to discipline under chapter 18.130 RCW.
Sec. 7.
RCW 18.71A.040 and 1990 c 196 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) No physician assistant
practicing in this state shall ((employ)) be employed or ((supervise))
supervised by a physician ((assistant)) or physician group
without the approval of the board.
((Any)) (2) Prior to commencing
practice, a physician assistant licensed in this state ((may))
shall apply to the board for permission to ((employ)) be
employed or ((supervise)) supervised by a physician ((assistant))
or physician group. The ((application)) practice arrangement
plan shall be jointly submitted by the physician or physician group
and physician assistant ((and shall be accompanied by a fee determined by
the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250. The joint application)).
The secretary may charge a fee as provided in RCW 43.70.250 to recover the cost
for the plan review. The practice arrangement plan shall ((detail))
delineate the manner and extent to which the physician assistant would
practice and be supervised((, shall detail the education, training, and
experience of the physician assistant and shall provide such other information
in such form as the board may require.
The board may approve or reject such
applications. In addition, the board may modify the proposed practice of the
physician assistant, and approve the application as modified. No such approval
shall extend for more than one year, but approval once granted may be renewed
upon payment of a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250)). Whenever ((it appears to the board that)) a
physician assistant is practicing in a manner inconsistent with the ((approval
granted)) approved practice arrangement plan, the medical
disciplinary board may ((withdraw such approval. In the event a hearing
is requested upon the rejection of an application, or upon the withdrawal of an
approval, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 18.130 RCW))
take disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.
Sec. 8.
RCW 18.71A.050 and 1990 c 196 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
No physician who supervises a licensed
physician assistant in accordance with and within the terms of any permission
granted by the medical examining board shall be considered as aiding and
abetting an unlicensed person to practice medicine((: PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
That any)). The supervising physician and physician assistant
shall retain professional and personal responsibility for any act which
constitutes the practice of medicine as defined in RCW ((18.71.010)) 18.71.011
when performed by ((a)) the physician assistant ((in the
physician's employ)).
