Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
ESB 5206
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 Description: Increasing the health professions participating in online access to the University of Washington health sciences library.
Sponsors: Senators Becker, Keiser, Schlicher, Parlette and Conway.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/14/13
Staff: Caitlin Forsyth (786-5793) and Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
The Department of Health (DOH) must charge fees to professionals licensed by the DOH and the health professions boards and commissions. The fees must be based on the cost to the agency for the licensure of the activity or class of activities.
In 2007 a fee surcharge of up to $25 was added to license fees for certain health professionals to pay for online access to selected clinical resources through the University of Washington Health Sciences Library. Beginning January 1, 2009, these licensees were given access to HEAL-WA, the Health Evidence Resource for Washington State. The HEAL-WA contains clinical resources such as medical journals, electronic textbooks, decision support tools, and evidence-based reviews of procedures, drugs, and devices. As of February 2013 more than 19,400 licensed healthcare providers are registered HEAL-WA users.
The online access fee surcharge is charged to the license fee of physicians and osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, naturopaths, podiatrists, chiropractors, psychologists, registered nurses, optometrists, mental health counselors, massage therapists, clinical social workers, midwives, marriage and family therapists, and East Asian medicine practitioners.
Summary of Bill:
Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, dietitians, nutritionists, and speech-language pathologists are added to the list of health care professionals who can have online access to selected clinical resources at the University of Washington Health Sciences Library. The license fees for these additional health care professionals can include up to an additional $25 for this purpose. All other health care professionals who desire to access HEAL-WA resources may pay the same additional fee at point of licensure and gain access.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.