Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee

HB 2894

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the Medical Professions Account (MPA) for the receipt all of funds related to the regulation of physicians and physician assistants.
Authorizes expenditures from the MPA to be made by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission or its executive director.

Background:

Health Professions Account.

The Secretary of Health (Secretary) and the various health profession boards and commissions regulate over 70 health professions and 45 types of health care facilities and services. The Secretary is responsible for establishing fees for all of these regulated entities. Fees must be established according to the amount necessary to defray the costs of administering the program. Fees may be waived by the Secretary when it is determined that it is not in the best interest of public health and safety.

Credentialing fees and other funds collected from health professions are deposited into the Health Professions Account (HPA). The contributions related to each health profession are tracked independently within the HPA; however, it is budgeted as a single account. The HPA is an appropriated account with expenditures authorized by the Secretary.

Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission (Commission) is a 21 member commission that is responsible for the licensing and disciplinary activities related to physicians and physician assistants. Generally, the Commission's is authorized to adopt rules, establish licensing standards, and conduct disciplinary proceedings in cases of unprofessional conduct. The Commission is in the second year of a five-year pilot that authorizes it to hire its own executive director, hire and manage its own staff, and submit its own biennial budget directly to the Office of Financial Management.

Summary of Bill:

The Medical Professions Account (MPA) is established in the custody of the State Treasurer. Fees, assessments, fines, and other funds received pursuant to the regulation of physicians and physician assistants must be deposited into the MPA. In addition, all funds related to the regulation of physicians and physician assistants that are currently in the Health Professions Account must be transferred to the MPA.

The MPA is an non-appropriated account and expenditures may only be authorized by either the Medical Quality Assurance Commission or its executive director. Expenditures may only be made for purposes related to the regulation of physicians and physician assistants.