FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1424

                         C 129 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for kidney dialysis centers.

Sponsors:  Representatives Skinner and Murray.

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:  The 1995 Legislature, required various health care settings to be considered a new category of health care facility called health care entities.  These new entities include kidney dialysis centers.  Kidney dialysis centers are included as health care entities regulated by the Board of Pharmacy, and are required to be licensed by the Department of Health to purchase, administer, and dispense legend drugs.  Kidney dialysis centers use only a few different types of drugs for treating dialysis patients.  These drugs are regulated by other statutory and administrative rules and are not considered addictive.

The Board of Pharmacy has reported that the costs of licensing and regulation of dialysis centers can be considerable without bringing a proportional increase in public safety.  Kidney dialysis centers have served dialysis patients for over thirty years without a significant incidence of harm to patients involving drugs.  The board has not received any information that drug utilization by kidney dialysis centers has resulted in significant harm to any patient.

Summary:  Kidney dialysis centers are no longer considered health care entities requiring licensing and regulation by the Department of Health.

Votes on Final Passage:

House950

Senate460

Effective:July 27, 1997