HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1417

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care & Wellness

Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight

Title: An act relating to evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements in medical professions.

Brief Description: Concerning evaluating military training and experience toward meeting licensing requirements in medical professions.

Sponsors: Representatives Rolfes, McCune, Appleton, Kirby, Zeiger, Seaquist, Kelley, Finn, Haigh, Dammeier, Angel, Jinkins, Stanford, Smith and Shea.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care & Wellness: 1/31/11, 2/10/11 [DPS];

Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight: 2/17/11 [DPS(HCW)].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hinkle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Kelley, Moeller and Van De Wege.

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) and various boards and commissions regulate a variety of health professions. Each profession is subject to its own unique credentialing standards such as education, clinical training, and the passage of examinations.

When an applicant with military experience applies for a credential, the DOH and the boards and commissions may, depending on the circumstances, count military training and experience toward the requirements for credentialing. Whether military training will be counted toward the credentialing requirements depends on a variety of factors, including the requirements for credentialing, the military training and experience at issue, and the statutory authority of the DOH, board, or commission with respect to the profession.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The appropriate disciplining authority must develop a process to evaluate military training and experience that may be applied toward meeting the training and educational requirements for the following professions:

• dental hygienists;

• denturists;

• dispensing opticians;

• ocularists;

• pharmacy assistants;

• physician assistants;

• osteopathic physician assistants;

• emergency medical technicians;

• nurses;

• radiologic technologists;

• nursing assistants;

• respiratory care practitioners;

• health care assistants;

• surgical technologists;

• dental assistants;

• optometrists;

• expanded function dental auxiliaries;

• physical therapists; and

• physical therapy assistants.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill adds denturists, optometrists, osteopathic physician assistants, physical therapists, and physical therapy assistants to the list of professions for whom the process must be developed. The substitute bill also makes technical changes to ensure that the entity developing the process is the disciplining authority for the profession.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill addresses a problem experienced by a lot of military personnel. Employment can often be difficult for veterans because of differences in licensing requirements, despite excellent military training in these professions. Veterans are often well qualified for these jobs with experience that is better than could be obtained in school. This bill asks the Department of Health to take a look at the process for licensing veterans. There are opportunities for colleges and universities to recognize military experience. Optometrists should be included in this legislation.

(In support with concerns) Osteopathic physician assistants should be included in this legislation.

(With concerns) Dental technician training in the military is not appropriate for dental hygienists, but is more appropriate for a separate dental assistant track.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Rolfes, prime sponsor; Mark San Souci, United States Department of Defense; Bob Rudolpf, Veterans and Military Families for Progress; Gary Brackett, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber; and Brad Tower, Optometric Physicians of Washington.

(In support with concerns) Jim Richards, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association.

(With concerns) Melissa Johnson, Washington State Dental Hygienists Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.

Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Health Care & Wellness be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Dickerson, Chair; Johnson, Ranking Minority Member; Schmick, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cody, Green, Harris, Kagi, Overstreet, Pettigrew and Walsh.

Staff: Amy Skei (786-7109).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Health Care & Wellness:

No new changes were recommended.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The thousands of people who retire and separate from the military in Washington state—6,000 in fiscal year 2010—greatly benefit from having attended Department of Defense schools and are highly qualified for many of the professions that are listed in the bill. The bill creates a process to look at their training and provide credit toward licensure. Madigan Army Medical Center in Pierce County has 5,000 employees, about half of whom are uniformed personnel. That is an excellent opportunity for the community and the health care industry to gain a great deal of experience from folks who are here and could transfer their skills to the civilian workforce.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Mark San Souci, Department of Defense State Liaison Office; and Gary Brackett, Tacoma and Pierce County Chamber.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.