5445-S AMH HC AMH-2935

5445-S AMH HC AMH-2935.1

SSB 5445 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Health Care

ADOPTED AS AMENDED 4/11/97

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1. RCW 18.71.210 and 1995 c 65 s 4 and 1995 c 103 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

No act or omission of any physician's trained emergency medical service intermediate life support technician and paramedic, as defined in RCW 18.71.200, or any emergency medical technician or first responder, as defined in RCW 18.73.030, done or omitted in good faith while rendering emergency medical service under the responsible supervision and control of a licensed physician or an approved medical program director or delegate(s) to a person who has suffered illness or bodily injury shall impose any liability upon:

(1) The physician's trained emergency medical service intermediate life support technician and paramedic, emergency medical technician, or first responder;

(2) The medical program director;

(3) The supervising physician(s);

(4) Any hospital, the officers, members of the staff, nurses, or other employees of a hospital;

(5) Any training agency or training physician(s);

(6) Any licensed ambulance service; or

(7) Any federal, state, county, city or other local governmental unit or employees of such a governmental unit.

This section shall apply to an act or omission committed or omitted in the performance of the actual emergency medical procedures and not in the commission or omission of an act which is not within the field of medical expertise of the physician's trained emergency medical service intermediate life support technician and paramedic, emergency medical technician, or first responder, as the case may be.

This section shall apply also, as to the entities and personnel described in subsections (1) through (7) of this section, to any act or omission committed or omitted in good faith by such entities or personnel in rendering services at the request of an approved medical program director in the training of emergency medical service ((~~medical~~)) personnel for certification or recertification pursuant to this chapter.

This section shall not apply to any act or omission which constitutes either gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.

Sec. 2. RCW 18.130.040 and 1996 c 200 s 32 and 1996 c 81 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the chapters specified in this section.

(2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation to the following professions:

(i) Dispensing opticians licensed under chapter 18.34 RCW;

(ii) Naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;

(iii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;

(iv) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;

(v) Massage operators and businesses licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW;

(vi) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;

(vii) Acupuncturists licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW;

(viii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians registered under chapter 18.84 RCW;

(ix) Respiratory care practitioners certified under chapter 18.89 RCW;

(x) Persons registered or certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;

(xi) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter 18.52C RCW;

(xii) Nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter ((~~18.79~~)) 18.88A RCW;

(xiii) Health care assistants certified under chapter 18.135 RCW;

(xiv) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 RCW;

(xv) Sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;

(xvi) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or RCW 18.71.205;

(xvii) Persons registered as adult family home providers and resident managers under RCW 18.48.020; and

(xviii) Denturists licensed under chapter 18.30 RCW.

(b) The boards and commissions having authority under this chapter are as follows:

(i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22 RCW;

(ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.25 RCW;

(iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.32 RCW;

(iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter 18.35 RCW;

(v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as established in chapter 18.52 RCW;

(vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;

(vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW;

(viii) The board of pharmacy as established in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A RCW;

(ix) The medical quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;

(x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 RCW;

(xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in chapter 18.59 RCW;

(xii) The nursing care quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.79 RCW governing licenses issued under that chapter;

(xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW; and

(xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 18.92 RCW.

(3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders, the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny licenses based on the conditions and criteria established in this chapter and the chapters specified in subsection (2) of this section. This chapter also governs any investigation, hearing, or proceeding relating to denial of licensure or issuance of a license conditioned on the applicant's compliance with an order entered pursuant to RCW 18.130.160 by the disciplining authority.

(4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure substantially consistent application of this chapter, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, among the disciplining authorities listed in subsection (2) of this section.

Sec. 3. RCW 18.35.060 and 1996 c 200 s 7 and 1996 c 191 s 19 are each reenacted to read as follows:

(1) The department shall issue a hearing instrument fitting/dispensing permit to any applicant who has shown to the satisfaction of the department that the applicant:

(a) Is at least twenty-one years of age;

(b) If issued a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit, would be employed and directly supervised in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments by a person licensed or certified in good standing as a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser or audiologist for at least two years unless otherwise approved by the board;

(c) Has complied with administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees determined as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280;

(d) Has not committed unprofessional conduct as specified by the uniform disciplinary act; and

(e) Is a high school graduate or the equivalent.

The provisions of RCW 18.35.030, 18.35.110, and 18.35.120 shall apply to any person issued a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit. Pursuant to the provisions of this section, a person issued a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit may engage in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments without having first passed the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination provided under this chapter.

(2) The hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit shall contain the names of the employer and the licensed or certified supervisor under this chapter who are employing and supervising the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder and those persons shall execute an acknowledgment of responsibility for all acts of the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder in connection with the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

(3) A hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder may fit and dispense hearing instruments, but only if the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder is under the direct supervision of a licensed hearing instrument fitter/dispenser or certified audiologist under this chapter in a capacity other than as a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder. Direct supervision by a licensed hearing instrument fitter/dispenser or certified audiologist shall be required whenever the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder is engaged in the fitting or dispensing of hearing instruments during the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder's employment. The board shall develop and adopt guidelines on any additional supervision or training it deems necessary.

(4) ((~~No individual may hold a hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit for more than two years.~~)) The hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit expires one year from the date of its issuance except that on recommendation of the board the permit may be reissued for one additional year only.

(5) No certified audiologist or licensed hearing instrument fitter/dispenser under this chapter may assume the responsibility for more than one hearing instrument fitter/dispenser permit holder at any one time.

(6) The department, upon approval by the board, shall issue an interim permit authorizing an applicant for speech-language pathologist certification or audiologist certification who, except for the postgraduate professional experience and the examination requirements, meets the academic and practicum requirements of RCW 18.35.040 to practice under interim permit supervision by a certified speech-language pathologist or certified audiologist. The interim permit is valid for a period of one year from date of issuance. The board shall determine conditions for the interim permit.

Sec. 4. RCW 18.35.080 and 1996 c 200 s 9 and 1996 c 191 s 20 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall license or certify each qualified applicant who satisfactorily completes the required examinations for his or her profession and complies with administrative procedures and administrative requirements established pursuant to RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.

(2) The board shall waive the examination and grant a speech-language pathology certificate to a person engaged in the profession of speech-language pathology in this state on June 6, 1996, if the board determines that the person meets commonly accepted standards for the profession, as defined by rules adopted by the board. Persons eligible for certification under this subsection must apply for a certificate before July 1, 1997.

(3) The board shall waive the examinations and grant an audiology certificate to a person engaged in the profession of audiology in this state on June 6, 1996, if the board determines that the person meets the commonly accepted standards for the profession and has passed the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination. Persons eligible for certification under this subsection must apply for a certificate before July 1, 1997.

(4) The board shall grant an audiology certificate to a person engaged in the profession of audiology, who has not been licensed as a hearing ((~~aid [instrument]~~)) instrument fitter/dispenser, but who meets the commonly accepted standards for the profession of audiology and graduated from a board-approved program after January 1, 1993, and has passed sections of the examination pertaining to RCW 18.35.070 (3), (4), and (5). Persons eligible for certification under this subsection must apply for a certificate before July 1, 1997.

(5) Persons engaged in the profession of audiology who meet the commonly accepted standards for the profession of audiology and graduated from a board-approved program prior to January 1, 1993, and who have not passed the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination shall be granted a temporary audiology certificate (nondispensing) for a period of two years from June 6, 1996, during which time they must pass sections of the hearing instrument fitter/dispenser examination pertaining to RCW 18.35.070 (1)(c), (2)(e) and (f), (3), (4), and (5). The board may extend the term of the temporary certificate upon review. Persons eligible for certification under this subsection must apply for a certificate before July 1, 1997.

Sec. 5. RCW 18.35.090 and 1996 c 200 s 11 and 1996 c 191 s 21 are each reenacted to read as follows:

Each person who engages in practice under this chapter shall comply with administrative procedures and administrative requirements established under RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280 and shall keep the license, certificate, or permit conspicuously posted in the place of business at all times. The secretary may establish mandatory continuing education requirements and/or continued competency standards to be met by licensees or certificate or permit holders as a condition for license, certificate, or permit renewal.

Sec. 6. RCW 18.88A.230 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 s 48 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The nurse and nursing assistant shall be accountable for their own individual actions in the delegation process. Nurses acting within the protocols of their delegation authority shall be immune from liability for any action performed in the course of their delegation duties. Nursing assistants following written delegation instructions from registered nurses performed in the course of their accurately written, delegated duties shall be immune from liability.

(2) No person may coerce a nurse into compromising patient safety by requiring the nurse to delegate if the nurse determines it is inappropriate to do so. Nurses shall not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action by the Washington nursing care quality assurance commission for refusing to delegate tasks or refusing to provide the required training for delegation if the nurse determines delegation may compromise patient safety. Nursing assistants shall not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action by the nursing care quality assurance commission for refusing to accept delegation of a nursing task based on patient safety issues. No community residential program, adult family home, or boarding home contracting to provide assisted-living services may discriminate or retaliate in any manner against a person because the person made a complaint or cooperated in the investigation of a complaint.

(3) The department of social and health services shall impose a civil fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars on a community residential program, adult family home, or boarding home under chapter 18, Laws of 1995 1st sp. sess. that knowingly permits an employee to perform a nursing task except as delegated by a nurse pursuant to chapter 18, Laws of 1995 1st sp. sess.

Sec. 7. 1995 1st sp.s. c 18 s 53 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

The secretary of health in consultation with the Washington nursing care quality assurance commission and the department of social and health services shall monitor the implementation of sections 45 through 54 of this act and shall make an interim report by December 31, 1996, and a final report by December 31, ((~~1997~~)) 1998, to the legislature with any recommendations for improvements. As part of the monitoring process, the secretary of health and the secretary of social and health services, in consultation with the University of Washington school of nursing, shall conduct a study to be completed by September 30, ((~~1997~~)) 1998, which shall be a part of the final report to be submitted to the legislature by December 31, ((~~1997~~)) 1998. The study shall include consideration of the protection of health and safety of persons with developmental disabilities and residents of adult family homes and boarding homes providing assisted living services, including the appropriateness of the tasks allowed for delegation, level and type of training and regulation of nursing assistants. The report shall include direct observation, documentation, and interviews, and shall specifically include data on the following:

(1) Patient, nurse, and nursing assistant satisfaction;

(2) Medication errors, including those resulting in hospitalization;

(3) Compliance with required training;

(4) Compliance with nurse delegation protocols;

(5) Incidence of harm to patients, including abuse and neglect;

(6) Impact on access to care;

(7) Impact on patient quality of life; and

(8) Incidence of coercion in the nurse-delegation process.

Sec. 8. RCW 18.74.010 and 1991 c 12 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Board" means the board of physical therapy created by RCW 18.74.020.

(2) "Department" means the department of health.

(3) "Physical therapy" means the treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any person by the use of the physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, cold, air, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and therapeutic exercise, which includes posture and rehabilitation procedures; the performance of tests and measurements of neuromuscular function as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition; performance of treatments on the basis of test findings after consultation with and periodic review by an authorized health care practitioner except as provided in RCW 18.74.012; supervision of selective forms of treatment by trained supportive personnel; and provision of consultative services for health, education, and community agencies. The use of Roentgen rays and radium for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, the use of electricity for surgical purposes, including cauterization, and the use of spinal manipulation or manipulative mobilization of the spine and its immediate articulations, are not included under the term "physical therapy" as used in this chapter.

(4) "Physical therapist" means a person who practices physical therapy as defined in this chapter but does not include massage operators as defined in RCW 18.108.010.

(5) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.

(6) Words importing the masculine gender may be applied to females.

(7) "Authorized health care practitioner" means and includes licensed physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, ((~~podiatrists, and~~)) podiatric physicians and surgeons, dentists, and advanced registered nurse practitioners: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That nothing herein shall be construed as altering the scope of practice of such practitioners as defined in their respective licensure laws.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The department of social and health services shall not impose civil fines authorized in RCW 18.88A.230 on facilities licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW.

This section does not affect any other fines or disciplinary actions authorized to be imposed by the department for facilities licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW.

This section expires July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 43.03 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any part-time commission that has rule-making authority, performs quasi-judicial functions, has responsibility for the policy direction of a health profession credentialing program, and performs regulatory and licensing functions with respect to a health care profession licensed under Title 18 RCW shall be identified as a class five group for purposes of compensation.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each member of a class five group is eligible to receive compensation in an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars for each day during which the member attends an official meeting of the group or performs statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chairperson of the group. A person shall not receive compensation for a day of service under this section if the person (a) occupies a position, normally regarded as full-time in nature, in any agency of the federal government, Washington state government, or Washington state local government; and (b) receives any compensation from such government for working that day.

(3) Compensation may be paid a member under this section only if it is necessarily incurred in the course of authorized business consistent with the responsibilities of the commission established by law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. The department of health shall study the feasibility of updating, designing, and expanding the comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system to include ambulatory and outpatient data. The department shall submit a preliminary report to the legislature by December 31, 1997, and a final report July 1, 1998. The report shall be done in conjunction with potential and current data providers and shall include a cost/benefit analysis, data standards and reporting requirements, financing alternatives, data access and dissemination requirements, prioritization of data needs, and proposed implementation phases."

Correct the title.