S-0733.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5778
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators Deccio and Wojahn
Read first time 02/12/97. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to referrals to the department of health by the legislature to review proposed substantial changes to scope of practice or level of regulation of health professions; amending RCW 18.120.010, 18.120.020, 18.120.030, 18.120.040, and 18.120.050; adding a new section to chapter 18.120 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 18.120.010 and 1990 c 33 s 554 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The purpose of this chapter is to establish guidelines for the regulation of
health professions not licensed or otherwise regulated prior to July ((24,
1983)) 1, 1997, and those licensed or regulated health professions
which seek to substantially increase their scope of practice((: PROVIDED,
That)). The provisions of this chapter are not intended and shall
not be construed to: (a) Apply to any regulatory entity created prior to July
((24, 1983)) 1, 1997, except as provided in this chapter; (b)
affect the powers and responsibilities of the superintendent of public
instruction or state board of education under RCW 28A.305.130 and 28A.410.010;
(c) apply to or interfere in any way with the practice of religion or to any
kind of treatment by prayer; and (d) apply to any remedial or technical
amendments to any statutes which licensed or regulated activity before July ((24,
1983)) 1, 1997. The legislature believes that all individuals
should be permitted to enter into a health profession unless there is ((an
overwhelming)) a demonstrable need for the state to protect the
interests of the public by ((restricting)) regulating entry into
the profession. Where such a need is identified, the regulation adopted by the
state should be set at ((the least restrictive)) a level
consistent with the public interest ((to be protected)).
(2)
((It is the intent of this chapter that no regulation shall, after July 24,
1983, be imposed upon any health profession except for the exclusive purpose of
protecting the public interest.)) All bills introduced in the legislature
to regulate a health profession for the first time ((should be reviewed
according to the following criteria. A health profession should be regulated
by the state only when)), change the level of regulation, or
substantially increase the scope of practice should first be referred to the
department of health for review and recommendations. In responding to a
legislative request after July 1, 1997, for review and recommendations, the
department shall base its review and recommendations on one or more of the
following criteria:
(a)
Unregulated practice can clearly harm or endanger the health, safety, or
welfare of the public((, and the potential for the harm is easily
recognizable and not remote or dependent upon tenuous argument));
(b)
The public needs and can reasonably be expected to benefit from an assurance of
initial and continuing professional ability and availability; ((and))
(c)
The public cannot be effectively protected by other means ((in a more
cost-beneficial manner));
(d) Regulated practice will promote effective health outcomes;
(e) Public access to a competent health care provider work force will be increased; or
(f) The public will benefit from enhanced competition among health care providers.
(3)
After evaluating the criteria in subsection (2) of this section and considering
total governmental and societal costs and benefits, if the department
recommends and the legislature finds that it is necessary to regulate a
health profession not previously regulated by law, the least restrictive
alternative method of regulation should be implemented, consistent with the
public interest ((and this section:
(a)
Where existing common law and statutory civil actions and criminal prohibitions
are not sufficient to eradicate existing harm, the regulation should provide
for stricter civil actions and criminal prosecutions;
(b)
Where a service is being performed for individuals involving a hazard to the
public health, safety, or welfare, the regulation should impose inspection
requirements and enable an appropriate state agency to enforce violations by
injunctive relief in court, including, but not limited to, regulation of the business
activity providing the service rather than the employees of the business;
(c)
Where the threat to the public health, safety, or economic well-being is
relatively small as a result of the operation of the health profession, the
regulation should implement a system of registration;
(d)
Where the consumer may have a substantial basis for relying on the services of
a practitioner, the regulation should implement a system of certification; or
(e)
Where apparent that adequate regulation cannot be achieved by means other than
licensing, the regulation should implement a system of licensing)).
Sec. 2. RCW 18.120.020 and 1996 c 178 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
The definitions contained in this section shall apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Applicant group" includes any health professional group or organization, any individual, or any other interested party which proposes that any health professional group not presently regulated be regulated or which proposes to substantially increase the scope of practice of the profession.
(2) "Certificate" and "certification" mean a voluntary process by which a statutory regulatory entity grants recognition to an individual who (a) has met certain prerequisite qualifications specified by that regulatory entity, and (b) may assume or use "certified" in the title or designation to perform prescribed health professional tasks.
(3)
(("Grandfather clause" means a provision in a regulatory statute
applicable to practitioners actively engaged in the regulated health profession
prior to the effective date of the regulatory statute which exempts the
practitioners from meeting the prerequisite qualifications set forth in the
regulatory statute to perform prescribed occupational tasks.)) "Department"
means the department of health.
(4)
"Health professions" means and includes the following health and
health-related licensed or regulated professions and occupations: Podiatric
medicine and surgery under chapter 18.22 RCW; chiropractic under chapter 18.25
RCW; dental hygiene under chapter 18.29 RCW; dentistry under chapter 18.32 RCW;
denturism under chapter 18.30 RCW; dispensing opticians under chapter 18.34
RCW; hearing ((aids)) instruments under chapter 18.35 RCW;
naturopaths under chapter 18.36A RCW; embalming and funeral directing under
chapter 18.39 RCW; midwifery under chapter 18.50 RCW; nursing home
administration under chapter 18.52 RCW; optometry under chapters 18.53 and
18.54 RCW; ocularists under chapter 18.55 RCW; osteopathic medicine and surgery
under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW; pharmacy under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A
RCW; medicine under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW; emergency medicine under
chapter 18.73 RCW; physical therapy under chapter 18.74 RCW; practical nurses
under chapter 18.79 RCW; psychologists under chapter 18.83 RCW; registered
nurses under chapter 18.79 RCW; occupational therapists licensed under chapter
18.59 RCW; respiratory care practitioners certified under chapter 18.89 RCW;
veterinarians and animal technicians under chapter 18.92 RCW; health care
assistants under chapter 18.135 RCW; massage practitioners under chapter 18.108
RCW; acupuncturists licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW; persons registered or
certified under chapter 18.19 RCW; dietitians and nutritionists certified by
chapter 18.138 RCW; radiologic technicians under chapter 18.84 RCW; and nursing
assistants registered or certified under chapter 18.88A RCW.
(5) "Inspection" means the periodic examination of practitioners by a state agency in order to ascertain whether the practitioners' occupation is being carried out in a fashion consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare.
(6) "Legislative committees of reference" means the standing legislative committees designated by the respective rules committees of the senate and house of representatives to consider proposed legislation to regulate health professions not previously regulated.
(7) "License," "licensing," and "licensure" mean permission to engage in a health profession which would otherwise be unlawful in the state in the absence of the permission. A license is granted to those individuals who meet prerequisite qualifications to perform prescribed health professional tasks and for the use of a particular title.
(8) "Professional license" means an individual, nontransferable authorization to carry on a health activity based on qualifications which include: (a) Graduation from an accredited or approved program, and (b) acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series of examinations.
(9) "Practitioner" means an individual who (a) has achieved knowledge and skill by practice, and (b) is actively engaged in a specified health profession.
(10) "Public member" means an individual who is not, and never was, a member of the health profession being regulated or the spouse of a member, or an individual who does not have and never has had a material financial interest in either the rendering of the health professional service being regulated or an activity directly related to the profession being regulated.
(11) "Registration" means the formal notification which, prior to rendering services, a practitioner shall submit to a state agency setting forth the name and address of the practitioner; the location, nature and operation of the health activity to be practiced; and, if required by the regulatory entity, a description of the service to be provided.
(12) "Regulatory entity" means any board, commission, agency, division, or other unit or subunit of state government which regulates one or more professions, occupations, industries, businesses, or other endeavors in this state.
(13) "State agency" includes every state office, department, board, commission, regulatory entity, and agency of the state, and, where provided by law, programs and activities involving less than the full responsibility of a state agency.
Sec. 3. RCW 18.120.030 and 1991 c 332 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
After
July ((24, 1983)) 1, 1997, if appropriate, applicant groups shall
explain each of the following factors ((to the extent requested by the
legislative committees of reference)) and provide other information
requested by the department of health:
(1)
A definition of the problem and why regulation is necessary((:
(a)
The nature of the potential harm to the public if the health profession is not
regulated, and the extent to which there is a threat to public health and
safety;
(b)
The extent to which consumers need and will benefit from a method of regulation
identifying competent practitioners, indicating typical employers, if any, of
practitioners in the health profession; and
(c)
The extent of autonomy a practitioner has, as indicated by:
(i)
The extent to which the health profession calls for independent judgment and
the extent of skill or experience required in making the independent judgment;
and
(ii)
The extent to which practitioners are supervised));
(2)
The efforts made to address the problem((:
(a)
Voluntary efforts, if any, by members of the health profession to:
(i)
Establish a code of ethics; or
(ii)
Help resolve disputes between health practitioners and consumers; and
(b)
Recourse to and the extent of use of applicable law and whether it could be
strengthened to control the problem));
(3)
The alternatives considered((:
(a)
Regulation of business employers or practitioners rather than employee
practitioners;
(b)
Regulation of the program or service rather than the individual practitioners;
(c)
Registration of all practitioners;
(d)
Certification of all practitioners;
(e)
Other alternatives;
(f)
Why the use of the alternatives specified in this subsection would not be
adequate to protect the public interest; and
(g)
Why licensing would serve to protect the public interest));
(4)
The benefit to the public if regulation is granted((:
(a)
The extent to which the incidence of specific problems present in the unregulated
health profession can reasonably be expected to be reduced by regulation;
(b)
Whether the public can identify qualified practitioners;
(c)
The extent to which the public can be confident that qualified practitioners
are competent:
(i)
Whether the proposed regulatory entity would be a board composed of members of
the profession and public members, or a state agency, or both, and, if
appropriate, their respective responsibilities in administering the system of
registration, certification, or licensure, including the composition of the
board and the number of public members, if any; the powers and duties of the
board or state agency regarding examinations and for cause revocation,
suspension, and nonrenewal of registrations, certificates, or licenses; the
promulgation of rules and canons of ethics; the conduct of inspections; the
receipt of complaints and disciplinary action taken against practitioners; and
how fees would be levied and collected to cover the expenses of administering
and operating the regulatory system;
(ii)
If there is a grandfather clause, whether such practitioners will be required
to meet the prerequisite qualifications established by the regulatory entity at
a later date;
(iii)
The nature of the standards proposed for registration, certification, or
licensure as compared with the standards of other jurisdictions;
(iv)
Whether the regulatory entity would be authorized to enter into reciprocity
agreements with other jurisdictions;
(v)
The nature and duration of any training including, but not limited to, whether
the training includes a substantial amount of supervised field experience;
whether training programs exist in this state; if there will be an experience
requirement; whether the experience must be acquired under a registered,
certificated, or licensed practitioner; whether there are alternative routes of
entry or methods of meeting the prerequisite qualifications; whether all
applicants will be required to pass an examination; and, if an examination is
required, by whom it will be developed and how the costs of development will be
met; and
(vi)
What additional training programs are anticipated to be necessary to assure
training accessible state-wide; the anticipated time required to establish the
additional training programs; the types of institutions capable of providing
the training; a description of how training programs will meet the needs of the
expected work force, including reentry workers, minorities, placebound
students, and others;
(d)
Assurance of the public that practitioners have maintained their competence:
(i)
Whether the registration, certification, or licensure will carry an expiration
date; and
(ii)
Whether renewal will be based only upon payment of a fee, or whether renewal
will involve reexamination, peer review, or other enforcement));
(5)
The extent to which regulation might harm the public((:
(a)
The extent to which regulation will restrict entry into the health profession:
(i)
Whether the proposed standards are more restrictive than necessary to insure
safe and effective performance; and
(ii)
Whether the proposed legislation requires registered, certificated, or licensed
practitioners in other jurisdictions who migrate to this state to qualify in
the same manner as state applicants for registration, certification, and
licensure when the other jurisdiction has substantially equivalent requirements
for registration, certification, or licensure as those in this state; and
(b)
Whether there are similar professions to that of the applicant group which should
be included in, or portions of the applicant group which should be excluded
from, the proposed legislation));
(6)
The maintenance of standards((:
(a)
Whether effective quality assurance standards exist in the health profession,
such as legal requirements associated with specific programs that define or
enforce standards, or a code of ethics; and
(b)
How the proposed legislation will assure quality:
(i)
The extent to which a code of ethics, if any, will be adopted; and
(ii)
The grounds for suspension or revocation of registration, certification, or
licensure));
(7)
A description of the group proposed for regulation, including a list of
associations, organizations, and other groups representing the practitioners in
this state, an estimate of the number of practitioners in each group, and
whether the groups represent different levels of practice; ((and))
(8)
The expected costs of regulation((:
(a)
The impact registration, certification, or licensure will have on the costs of
the services to the public;
(b)
The cost to the state and to the general public of implementing the proposed
legislation; and
(c)
The cost to the state and the members of the group proposed for regulation for
the required education, including projected tuition and expenses and expected
increases in training programs, staffing, and enrollments at state training
institutions));
(9) A description of similar regulatory activities in other states or jurisdictions; and
(10) The impact of regulation on competition among health professionals and the change in availability of the practitioner group to the public.
Sec. 4. RCW 18.120.040 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 305 are each amended to read as follows:
Applicant
groups shall submit a written report explaining the factors enumerated in RCW
18.120.030 to the ((legislative committees of reference, copies of which
shall be sent to the state board of health and the)) department ((of
health for review and comment)). The department may request from the
applicant group additional information the department determines is needed to
make its recommendations. The ((state board of health and the))
department ((of health)) shall review and make recommendations ((based))
on the report submitted by applicant groups ((to the extent requested by the
legislative committees)) and comments solicited from the state board of
health and others.
Sec. 5. RCW 18.120.050 and 1984 c 279 s 58 are each amended to read as follows:
((Requirements
for licensees to engage in continuing education as a condition of continued
licensure has not been proven to be an effective method of guaranteeing or
improving the competence of licensees or the quality of care received by the
consumer. The legislature has serious reservations concerning the
appropriateness of mandated continuing education.)) Any legislative
proposal which contains a continuing education requirement should be
accompanied by evidence that such a requirement has been proven effective for
the profession addressed in the legislation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 18.120 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall develop and promulgate a manual describing the criteria to be met and the process of review for applicant groups. The department shall consult with representatives of health professions in the development and any subsequent amendment of the manual.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 1997.
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