HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2743

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to requirements for retired active licenses for health care practitioners.

Brief Description:  Revising requirements for retired active licenses for health care practitioners.

Sponsors:  Representatives Honeyford, Backlund, Silver and Lisk.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/1/96, 2/2/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Hymes, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Crouse; Morris; Sherstad; Skinner and H. Sommers.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  A retired active license is a license issued by a state health professions disciplinary authority at a reduced fee for a health practitioner who is retired from full-time practice but desires to maintain a license to practice only intermittently or on an emergent basis.

A health practitioner holding a retired active license must meet any continuing education requirements as a condition for the renewal of the license.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The professional health disciplinary authorities are authorized to provide for a reduction in hours of the continuing education requirement for a practitioner holding a retired active license who provides free services to the community.  The disciplinary authority is also authorized to provide by rule procedures for activization or reissuance of a license for full-time practice.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A licensee may not be totally relieved of the continuing education requirement, but the respective disciplinary authority may authorize a reduction in the number of continuing education hours.  The disciplinary authoritys can reactivate the licensee's retired active license status for full-time practice.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The costs of taking continuing education courses by retired practitioners may be burdensome on retirees providing free services to the community on a part-time basis. Exemption or waiver, or a reduction in the number of hours of the continuing education requirement, may provide an incentive for pro bono service to the community.

Testimony Against:  There are concerns that the retired practitioner practicing on a part-time basis may not be keeping up with changes in standards of care.  Continuing education is an important way for health practitioners to keep current.  This is a matter best left to the discretion of the boards and commissions.

Testified:  Ron Weaver, Department of Health; and Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.