BILL REQ. #:  S-0621.2 

Read first time 02/01/11.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to the certification of dental anesthesia assistants; reenacting and amending RCW 18.130.040; and adding a new chapter to Title 18 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Close supervision" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.260.010.
     (2) "Commission" means the dental quality assurance commission established in RCW 18.32.0351.
     (3) "Department" means the department of health.
     (4) "Direct visual supervision" means supervision by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist by verbal command and under direct line of sight.
     (5) "Oral and maxillofacial surgeon" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.32.020.
     (6) "Secretary" means secretary of health.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   No person may practice or represent himself or herself as a certified dental anesthesia assistant by use of any title or description without being certified by the commission as having met the standards established for certification under this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Each applicant for certification as a dental anesthesia assistant must submit to the department:
     (a) An application, on a form provided by the department, with the applicant's name, address, and name and location of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist where the assistant will be performing his or her services;
     (b) An application fee, as determined by the secretary of health as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280; and
     (c) Satisfactory evidence of:
     (i) Completion of a commission-approved dental anesthesia assistant training course, to include intravenous access or phlebotomy;
     (ii) Completion of a commission-approved basic life support/cardiac pulmonary resuscitation course; and
     (iii) The valid general anesthesia permit of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist where the assistant will be performing his or her services.
     (2) The commission may adopt rules for the requirements for renewal of the certification, including continuing education requirements consistent with national oral and maxillofacial surgery requirements.
     (3) The secretary shall establish the administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees for renewal of registrations as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) Any dental anesthesia assistant certified pursuant to this chapter shall perform the functions authorized in this chapter only by delegation of authority from the oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist and under the supervision, as described in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist acting within the scope of his or her license.
     (2) Under close supervision, the dental anesthesia assistant may:
     (a) Initiate and discontinue an intravenous line for a patient being prepared to receive intravenous medications, sedation, or general anesthesia; and
     (b) Adjust the rate of intravenous fluids infusion.
     (3) Under direct visual supervision, the dental anesthesia assistant may:
     (a) Draw up and prepare medications;
     (b) Follow instructions to deliver medications into an intravenous line upon verbal command;
     (c) Adjust an electronic device to provide medications, such as an infusion pump;
     (d) Administer emergency medications to a patient in order to assist the oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist in an emergency.
     (4) Any oral and maxillofacial surgeon or dental anesthesiologist delegating duties under this section must have a valid general anesthesia permit.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of certification, and the discipline of certified dental anesthesia assistants under this chapter.

Sec. 6   RCW 18.130.040 and 2010 c 286 s 18 and 2010 c 65 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the chapters specified in this section.
     (2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation to the following professions:
     (i) Dispensing opticians licensed and designated apprentices under chapter 18.34 RCW;
     (ii) Naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;
     (iii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;
     (iv) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;
     (v) Massage operators and businesses licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW;
     (vi) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;
     (vii) East Asian medicine practitioners licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW;
     (viii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians registered under chapter 18.84 RCW;
     (ix) Respiratory care practitioners licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW;
     (x) Hypnotherapists and agency affiliated counselors registered and advisors and counselors certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;
     (xi) Persons licensed as mental health counselors, mental health counselor associates, marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapist associates, social workers, social work associates--advanced, and social work associates -- independent clinical under chapter 18.225 RCW;
     (xii) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter 18.52C RCW;
     (xiii) Nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter 18.88A RCW;
     (xiv) Health care assistants certified under chapter 18.135 RCW;
     (xv) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 RCW;
     (xvi) Chemical dependency professionals and chemical dependency professional trainees certified under chapter 18.205 RCW;
     (xvii) Sex offender treatment providers and certified affiliate sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;
     (xviii) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or RCW 18.71.205;
     (xix) Denturists licensed under chapter 18.30 RCW;
     (xx) Orthotists and prosthetists licensed under chapter 18.200 RCW;
     (xxi) Surgical technologists registered under chapter 18.215 RCW;
     (xxii) Recreational therapists;
     (xxiii) Animal massage practitioners certified under chapter 18.240 RCW;
     (xxiv) Athletic trainers licensed under chapter 18.250 RCW;
     (xxv) Home care aides certified under chapter 18.88B RCW; ((and))
     (xxvi) Genetic counselors licensed under chapter 18.290 RCW; and
     (xxvii) Dental anesthesia assistants certified under chapter 18.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 7 of this act).
     (b) The boards and commissions having authority under this chapter are as follows:
     (i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22 RCW;
     (ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.25 RCW;
     (iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.32 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.32 RCW ((and)), licenses and registrations issued under chapter 18.260 RCW, and certifications issued under chapter 18.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 7 of this act);
     (iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter 18.35 RCW;
     (v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as established in chapter 18.52 RCW;
     (vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;
     (vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW;
     (viii) The board of pharmacy as established in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A RCW;
     (ix) The medical quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;
     (x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 RCW;
     (xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in chapter 18.59 RCW;
     (xii) The nursing care quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.79 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under that chapter;
     (xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW; and
     (xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 18.92 RCW.
     (3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders, the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny licenses. The disciplining authority may also grant a license subject to conditions.
     (4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure substantially consistent application of this chapter, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, among the disciplining authorities listed in subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 18 RCW.