H-0795.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1216
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Dyer, Backlund and Zellinsky
Read first time 01/17/97. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to telemedicine; adding a new section to chapter 18.71 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:
(1) Telecommunications technology has made it possible to provide a wide range of health care services across state lines between physicians and patients.
(2) The delivery of health services by licensed physicians is a privilege conditioned upon the protection of the health and safety of the patient and the accountability of medical practice under the procedures and sanctions for unprofessional conduct governed by the uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.71 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A nonresident physician who provides direct care through tele-electronic means to a patient residing in this state must be sponsored by a physician licensed to practice and residing in this state.
(2) The medical quality assurance commission may define by rule the parameters for providing direct care through tele-electronic means, including guidelines for sponsoring nonresident licensed physicians.
(3) "Direct care" means advice or direction rendered by a nonresident physician taking primary responsibility for a patient's care that directly determines the course of care without any independent decision making by the resident physician attending the patient, but does not include rendering a diagnosis or providing consultation.
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