AN ACT Relating to
health care professional temporary substitute resource pool; and amending RCW
70.180.020, 70.180.030, and 70.180.040.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 70.180.020 and 1990
c 271 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The department shall
establish ((the)) or contract for a health professional temporary
substitute resource pool. The purpose of the pool is to provide short-term
physician, physician assistant, pharmacist, and advanced registered nurse
practitioner personnel to rural communities where these health care providers:
(1) Are unavailable
due to provider shortages;
(2) Need time off from
practice to attend continuing education and other training programs; and
(3) Need time off from
practice to attend to personal matters or recover from illness.
The health professional
temporary substitute resource pool is intended to provide short-term assistance
and should complement active health provider recruitment efforts by rural
communities where shortages exist.
Sec. 2. RCW 70.180.030 and 1990
c 271 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The department, in
cooperation with (([the])) the University of Washington school of
medicine, the state's registered nursing programs, the state's pharmacy
programs, and other appropriate public and private agencies and associations,
shall develop and keep current a register of physicians, physician assistants,
pharmacists, and advanced registered nurse practitioners who are available to
practice on a short-term basis in rural communities of the state. The
department shall ((periodically screen individuals on the registry for
violations of the uniform disciplinary act as authorized in chapter 18.130
RCW. If a finding of unprofessional conduct has been made by the appropriate
disciplinary authority against any individual on the registry, the name of that
individual shall be removed from the registry and that person shall be made
ineligible for the program. The department shall include a list of back-up
physicians and hospitals who can provide support to health care providers in
the pool)) list only individuals who have a valid license to practice.
The register shall be compiled((, published,)) and made available to all
rural hospitals, public health departments and districts, rural pharmacies, and
other appropriate public and private agencies and associations. ((The
department shall coordinate with existing entities involved in health
professional recruitment when developing the registry for the health
professional temporary substitute resource pool.))
(2) Eligible health
care professionals are those licensed under chapters 18.57, 18.57A, 18.64,
18.71, and 18.71A RCW and advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed
under chapter 18.88 RCW.
(3) Participating ((health
care professionals shall receive)) sites may:
(a) Receive reimbursement
for substitute provider travel to and from the rural community and for
lodging at a rate determined under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060; and
(b) ((Medical))
Receive reimbursement for the cost of malpractice insurance ((purchased
by the department, or the department may reimburse participants for medical
malpractice insurance premium costs for medical liability while providing
health care services in the program,)) if the services provided are not
covered by the ((participant's)) substitute provider's or local
provider's existing medical malpractice insurance((; and
(c) Information on
back-up support from other physicians and hospitals in the area to the extent
necessary and available)).
Reimbursement for malpractice insurance shall only be made available to sites
that incur additional costs for substitute provider coverage.
(4) The department may
require rural communities to participate in health professional recruitment
programs as a condition for providing a temporary substitute health care
professional if the community does not have adequate permanent health care
personnel. To the extent deemed appropriate and subject to funding, the
department may also require communities to participate in other programs or
projects, such as the rural health system project authorized in chapter 70.175
RCW, that are designed to assist communities to reorganize the delivery of
rural health care services.
(5) ((The
department may require a community match for assistance provided in subsection
(3) of this section if it determines that adequate community resources exist.
(6) The maximum
continuous period of time)) A
participating ((health professional may serve in a community is ninety days))
site may receive reimbursement for substitute provider assistance as
provided for in subsection (3) of this section for up to ninety days during any
twelve-month period. The department may modify or waive this limitation
should it determine that the health and safety of the community warrants a waiver
or modification. ((The community shall be responsible for all salary
expenses of participating health professionals))
(6) Participating
sites shall:
(a) Be responsible
for all salary expenses for the temporary substitute provider.
(b) Provide the temporary
substitute provider with referral and back-up coverage information.
Sec. 3. RCW 70.180.040 and 1990
c 271 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Requests for a
temporary substitute health care professional may be made to the department by
the certified health plan, local rural hospital, public health
department or district, community health clinic, local practicing physician,
physician assistant, pharmacist, or advanced registered nurse practitioner, or
local city or county government.
(2) The department ((shall))
may provide directly or contract for services to:
(a) Establish a manner
and form for receiving requests;
(b) Minimize paperwork
and compliance requirements for participant health care professionals and
entities requesting assistance; and
(c) Respond promptly
to all requests for assistance.
(3) The
department may apply for, receive, and accept gifts and other payments,
including property and services, from any governmental or other public or
private entity or person, and may make arrangements as to the use of these
receipts to operate the pool. The department shall make available upon request
to the appropriate legislative committees information concerning the source,
amount, and use of such gifts or payments.
