BILL REQ. #:  H-0370.1 

Prefiled 12/08/08. Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a study of holistic medicine; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The governor shall convene a work group to study and make recommendations regarding the practice and discipline of holistic physicians. The work group shall consist of twelve members appointed by the governor as follows:
     (a) Three physicians representing the Washington state medical association;
     (b) Three physicians who are members of the American college for advancement in medicine, the American academy of environmental medicine, or the American holistic medical association;
     (c) Three persons who are not physicians selected from a list of six names submitted by the Washington state medical association; and
     (d) Three persons who are not physicians selected from a list of six names submitted by the physicians appointed in (b) of this subsection.
     (2) The work group shall:
     (a) Study the differences between holistic and nonholistic physicians in terms of diagnostic and treatment methodologies to determine whether a regulatory definition of a holistic physician is advisable or feasible;
     (b) Examine existing protections provided to physicians under RCW 18.130.180(4) and determine whether additional protections for holistic physicians are warranted;
     (c) Determine whether holistic physicians are being treated fairly in the disciplinary process by reviewing and comparing:
     (i) Prior cases against holistic and nonholistic physicians;
     (ii) The number of investigations that were initiated neither by patient complaint nor allegations of patient harm regarding holistic and nonholistic physicians;
     (iii) The percentage of complaints that led to formal investigations of holistic and nonholistic physicians; and
     (iv) The fairness of procedures and safeguards in the hearings process with respect to holistic and nonholistic physicians;
     (d) Examine and compare the safeguards provided to patients of holistic and nonholistic physicians to confirm whether the safeguards provided to patients of holistic physicians meet current professional standards of patient safety; and
     (e) Solicit and consider written comments from the public and interested stakeholder groups.
     (3) The work group shall submit its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature by November 15, 2010. In addition to the findings and recommendations related to the work group's tasks in subsection (2) of this section, the recommendations shall include the following, if warranted by the work group's findings:
     (a) An identification of regulatory or other mechanisms to accommodate the use of safe and effective holistic health care services by physicians; and
     (b) Recommendations for:
     (i) Protecting the ability of patients to select their physician of choice;
     (ii) Assuring full disclosure of health care approaches and alternatives; and
     (iii) Ensuring fairness in the physician disciplinary process.
     (4) The department of health shall provide administrative support to the work group. The department of health shall also provide informational support to the work group upon request.
     (5) For purposes of this act, "physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine under chapter 18.71 RCW or a person licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery under chapter 18.57 RCW.
     (6) This section expires January 1, 2011.