FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 1296

C 275 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Making corrections to the department of health's professional and facilities licensing provisions.

Sponsors: By Representatives Moeller and Pflug; by request of Department of Health.

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

The Department of Health and the various professional boards regulate 55 types of health care professions and 45 types of health-related facilities and services. These entities issue credentials, establish minimum standards for professional practice, and take disciplinary actions against credentialed members of the profession that engage in unprofessional conduct. Disciplinary actions for health care providers who are licensed, certified, or registered are generally governed by the Uniform Disciplinary Act. Disciplinary actions for health-related facilities and credentialed health professionals not covered by the Uniform Disciplinary Act are governed by the Administrative Procedure Act.

Summary:

The following technical changes are made to various statutes regulating health care professions:

      •    A reference to fees for physician "certificates" is changed to "licenses."

      •    A drafting error that references facilities licensed under "chapter 71.12 RCW" is changed to "chapter 71A.12 RCW."

      •    One of the two identical statutory sections stating that those who purchase, distribute, or dispense legend drugs must maintain records to account for the receipt and disposition of these drugs is eliminated.

Dispensing optician apprentices are added to the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 94  0

Senate 46  0

Effective: July 27, 2003

                  July 1, 2003 (Section 2)