BILL REQ. #:  H-4109.1 

Read first time 01/18/10.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to the licensing surcharge for certain health care professions; and amending RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.112.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.70.110 and 2009 c 403 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The secretary shall charge fees to the licensee for obtaining a license. Physicians regulated pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW who reside and practice in Washington and obtain or renew a retired active license are exempt from such fees. After June 30, 1995, municipal corporations providing emergency medical care and transportation services pursuant to chapter 18.73 RCW shall be exempt from such fees, provided that such other emergency services shall only be charged for their pro rata share of the cost of licensure and inspection, if appropriate. The secretary may waive the fees when, in the discretion of the secretary, the fees would not be in the best interest of public health and safety, or when the fees would be to the financial disadvantage of the state.
     (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, fees charged shall be based on, but shall not exceed, the cost to the department for the licensure of the activity or class of activities and may include costs of necessary inspection.
     (3) License fees shall include amounts in addition to the cost of licensure activities in the following circumstances:
     (a) For registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, support of a central nursing resource center as provided in RCW 18.79.202, until June 30, 2013;
     (b) For all health care providers licensed under RCW 18.130.040, the cost of regulatory activities for retired volunteer medical worker licensees as provided in RCW 18.130.360; and
     (c) For physicians licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, physician assistants licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, osteopathic physicians licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, osteopathic physicians' assistants licensed under chapter 18.57A RCW, naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW, podiatrists licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW, chiropractors licensed under chapter 18.25 RCW, psychologists licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW, registered nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, optometrists licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW, mental health counselors licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW, massage therapists licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW, clinical social workers licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW, and acupuncturists licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW, the license fees shall include up to an additional ((twenty-five)) ten dollars to be transferred by the department to the University of Washington for the purposes of RCW 43.70.112.
     (4) Health care professionals who are not required to pay the fee established in subsection (3) of this section may opt to pay that fee in order to gain access to the resources referenced in RCW 43.70.112.
     (5) Department of health advisory committees may review fees established by the secretary for licenses and comment upon the appropriateness of the level of such fees.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.70.112 and 2009 c 558 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Within the amounts transferred from the department of health under RCW 43.70.110(3), the University of Washington shall, through the health sciences library, provide online access to selected vital clinical resources, medical journals, decision support tools, and evidence-based reviews of procedures, drugs, and devices to the health professionals ((listed)) referenced in RCW 43.70.110(3) (c) and (d). Online access shall be available no later than January 1, 2009. Each year, by December 1st, the University of Washington shall provide an annual accounting of the use of the funds transferred, including which categories of health professionals are using the materials available under the program. The accounting must be transmitted by electronic mail to the members of the health care committees of the legislature.