SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5494

                    As of February 27, 1997

Title:  An act relating to clinical laboratory science practitioners.

Brief Description:  Regulating clinical laboratory science practitioners.

Sponsors:  Senators Deccio, Wojahn, Fairley, Wood and Prentice.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/28/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  There are 2,366 medical test sites in the state, the standards for which are set by federal law.   Much of the medical testing occurs in physicians= offices, but test sites are also in hospitals, drug treatment centers, health clinics, nursing homes, private labs which do nothing but conduct tests, and a variety of other sites where medical care is delivered.

Regulation of these sites is driven by federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) which the state carries out under the State Medical Test Site Act (MTSA).  These regulations set site standards, and personnel standards where complex testing is being conducted.

There are a wide number of tests which are "waived" of federal standards, which means there is no regulation of the personnel conducting them.  These waived tests include, among many others, urine, glucose, pregnancy, hemoglobin tests which are frequently conducted in physicians= offices.

There is concern that the federal government is allowing  an increasing number of waived tests, and these are all being conducted without regulation of personnel.

Further, there is concern federal guidelines for personnel who conduct complex tests do not go far enough to ensure that the technicians are adequately trained.

There is also concern that currently the state has no disciplinary authority over the unregulated personnel who conduct waived tests in the hundreds of medical test sites in the state.

Summary of Bill:  Two levels of regulation are established for the practice of clinical laboratory science.  Practitioners who perform "limited laboratory testing" are registered by the Department of Health.  "Clinical laboratory science practitioners" are licensed under this act.  Both levels are defined.

The Secretary of Health is authorized to appoint an advisory committee of eight persons, including two public members, to advise the secretary on matters relating to these professionals.

The secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee, must establish education and training standards, renewal or credential and continuing education requirements for both levels of clinical lab practitioner.

Clinical laboratory practitioners regulated under this act are subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 26, 1997.

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