SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6334
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, January 31, 2008
Title: An act relating to the practice of health care assistants.
Brief Description: Regarding the scope of practice of health care assistants.
Sponsors: Senators Franklin, Regala, Fairley, Keiser and Kohl-Welles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 1/30/08, 1/31/08 [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 restricted authority to administer Food and Drug Administration approved vaccines and immunizations by injection. Health care assistants can administer vaccines orally or topically as long as they have been recommended by the advisory committee on immunization practices. The delegator is required to maintain a list of those vaccines and immunizations that the delegator has authorized for administration.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2008.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This will make vaccination services more available in clinics where the services are needed.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Thomas Wolf, Washington State Society of Medical Assistants; Katherine White Tudor, Washington Association of Community Migrant Health Centers; Laurie Jinkins, Department of Health; Cynthia Shurtleff, Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.