SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2475
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, February 25, 2008
Title: An act relating to the practice of health care assistants.
Brief Description: Regarding the scope of practice of health care assistants.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Cody, Morrell and Green).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/08, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 2/21/08, 2/25/08 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Fairley, Kastama, Kohl-Welles, Marr and Parlette.
Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)
Background: Health care assistants are unlicensed individuals who assist licensed health care practitioners in providing health care to patients. The Secretary of the Department of Health (Secretary) has established minimum requirements for a health care facility or health care practitioner to certify a health care assistant capable of performing certain functions. The Secretary has also established minimum requirements for each category of health care assistant. Health care assistants are permitted to administer skin tests and subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, and intravenous injections and minor invasive procedures to withdraw blood. Health care assistants must be under the supervision of a health care practitioner (delegator) to perform these procedures. Delegators are required to maintain a list of medications, diagnostic agents, and the route of administration that the delegator has authorized for injection by the health care assistant. This list is provided to the Secretary.
Summary of Bill: Health care assistants are given authority to administer Food and Drug Administration approved vaccines by injection, orally, or topically. Physician assistants are added to the list of those health care practitioners who can delegate authority to a health care assistant. The delegator is required to maintain a list of vaccines that the delegator has authorized for administration.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Substitute Bill: PRO: Our community and migrant health centers serve the most needy individuals in the state and allowing health care assistants to administer vaccines will help immensely in providing needed health care. We support health care assistants being able to administer rotavirus vaccine in particular, because it is a very common virus.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Karen Jensen, Department of Health; Katherine White Tudor, Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers; Thomas Wolfe, Washington State Society of Medical Assistants.