Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care Committee

ESB 6194

Brief Description: Requiring multicultural education for health professionals.

Sponsors: Senators Franklin, Regala, Keiser, Eide, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, Fairley, McAuliffe, Fraser, Spanel, Kline, Kohl-Welles and Shin.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill
  • Requires that health care providers receive multi-cultural training in their professional education programs and through continuing education.

Hearing Date: 2/21/06

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

The Department of Health (Department) regulates 57 health care professions. Currently, over 290,000 people hold a health care provider credential issued by the Department. The Legislature establishes general education and training requirements for each health profession. Specific disciplining authorities may be authorized to further define the initial education and training standards or to require continuing competency or continuing education prior to the renewal of a credential. Certain types of standard education and training requirements may apply across multiple professions, such as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education or domestic violence education.

In 2004, the Legislature created the Joint Select Committee on Health Disparities (Committee) through the adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 8419. The Committee issued a report on health disparities in Washington on November 1, 2005. The report contained several recommendations and findings for the Legislature's consideration. Among the Committee's recommendations was to "develop the knowledge, attitudes, and practice skills of health professionals and those working with diverse populations to achieve a greater understanding of the relationship between culture and health."

Summary of Bill:

Education programs that train individuals to practice a health profession must include multi-cultural health instruction and assessment in their basic education preparation curriculum.

Regulatory authorities that are authorized to adopt continuing education requirements for their health professions must include multi-cultural health training as a part of continuing education requirements.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 14, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.