Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 1518

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

Removes the expiration date on pilot projects to provide greater independent authority to the Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
Establishes a five year pilot project to provide greater independent authority to the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission.

Background:

The regulation of the 83 health professions in Washington is divided between the Secretary of Health (Secretary), the 11 health professions boards, and the four health professions commissions. Responsibilities for licensing, examination, discipline, and rulemaking vary between the entities as do membership requirements.

Until 2008 the four health professions commissions generally had full authority over licensing, examination, discipline, and rulemaking. Administrative support to the commissions was provided by the Secretary who hired and managed staff, developed budgets, and established fee amounts.

In 2008 the Medical Quality Assurance Commission and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission were selected to participate in a pilot project to expand the responsibilities of the commissions. Although the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission and the Dental Quality Assurance Commission were permitted to participate in the pilot project if the members of the commissions approved, neither of those commissions chose to participate. Under the pilot project, responsibilities were shifted to allow the participating commissions to:

hire their own executive directors;
propose their own biennial budgets which the Secretary must submit directly to the Office of Financial Management;
collaborate with the Secretary when he or she adopts credentialing fees;
be consulted by the Secretary when he or she is adopting uniform rules and guidelines that may negatively impact the commissions' ability to carry out their duties; and
develop performance measures related to the consistent, timely regulation of health care professionals.

The pilot projects expire on June 30, 2013.

Summary of Bill:

Continuation of Current Commission Independence Pilot Projects.

The expiration date is removed for the pilot projects that expand the authority of the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC) and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC). The MQAC and NCQAC are given permanent authority to hire their executive directors, develop their budgets, collaborate with the Secretary of Health (Secretary) on credentialing fees, comment on uniform rules and guidelines, and develop performance measures.

New Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission Independence Pilot Project.

The Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (CQAC) may elect to participate in a pilot project to allow it to hire its own executive director and permit the executive director to carry out the administrative duties of the CQAC and manage the Department of Health staff that are assigned to the CQAC. Under the pilot project, the CQAC is responsible for establishing its own biennial budget, collaborating with the Secretary on credentialing fees, consulting with the Secretary on uniform rules and guidelines, and developing its own performance measures related to the consistent and timely regulation of health care professionals.

By December 1, 2013, the Secretary and the CQAC must report to the Governor and the Legislature on the results of the pilot project. The report must compare the CQAC's effectiveness in licensing and disciplinary activities, efficiency with respect to timeliness and personnel resources, budgetary activity, and ability to meet performance measures.