AN ACT Relating to continuing education related to cultural competency for health care professionals; amending RCW 43.70.615; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:

(1) For purposes of this section, "disciplining authority" means the regulatory entities identified in RCW 18.130.040 and authorized to establish continuing education requirements for the health care professions governed by those regulatory entities.

(2)(a) By July 1, 2017, a disciplining authority must adopt rules requiring a person authorized to practice the profession regulated by the disciplining authority to receive cultural competency continuing education training. A disciplining authority may consult with individuals or organizations having expertise in health disparities or with the department of health in the development of these rules.

(b) Cultural competency continuing education courses may be taken in addition to or, if a disciplining authority determines a cultural competency continuing education course fulfills existing continuing education requirements, in place of other continuing education requirements imposed by the disciplining authority.

(3)(a) By July 1, 2016, the department of health must approve, develop, and make available to each disciplining authority a list of continuing education opportunities related to cultural competency. The continuing education opportunities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Courses delivered either in person or electronically;

(ii) Experiential learning such as cultural or linguistic immersion;

(iii) Service learning; or

(iv) Specially designed cultural experiences.

(b) The continuing education opportunities must teach attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable a health care professional to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Applying linguistic skills to communicate effectively with patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities; and

(ii) Using cultural information to establish therapeutic relationships; and

(iii) Eliciting, understanding, and applying cultural and ethnic data in the process of clinical care.

(c) The department of health may collaborate with or award grant funding to a public or private entity with an expertise in cultural competency or health disparities to develop the list of or offer approved continued education opportunities related to cultural competency.

(4) The department of health may accept gifts, grants, or contributions from any public or private source to carry out this section. The department must deposit moneys received under this subsection into the health professions account created in RCW 43.70.320.

Sec. 2.  RCW 43.70.615 and 2006 c 237 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) For the purposes of this section, "multicultural health" means the provision of health care services with the knowledge and awareness of the causes and effects of the determinants of health that lead to disparities in health status between different genders and racial and ethnic populations and the practice skills necessary to respond appropriately.

(2) The department, in consultation with the disciplining authorities as defined in RCW 18.130.040, shall establish, within available department general funds, an ongoing multicultural health awareness and education program as an integral part of its health professions regulation. The purpose of the education program is to raise awareness and educate health care professionals regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and practice skills necessary to care for diverse populations to achieve a greater understanding of the relationship between culture and health. ((The disciplining authorities having the authority to offer continuing education may provide training in the dynamics of providing culturally competent, multicultural health care to diverse populations.)) Any such education shall be developed in collaboration with education programs that train students in that health profession. ((A disciplining authority may require that instructors of continuing education or continuing competency programs integrate multicultural health into their curricula when it is appropriate to the subject matter of the instruction.)) No funds from the health professions account may be utilized to fund activities under this section unless the disciplining authority authorizes expenditures from its proportions of the account. ((A disciplining authority may defray costs by authorizing a fee to be charged for participants or materials relating to any sponsored program.))

(3) By July 1, 2008, each education program with a curriculum to train health professionals for employment in a profession credentialed by a disciplining authority under chapter 18.130 RCW shall integrate into the curriculum instruction in multicultural health as part of its basic education preparation curriculum. The department may not deny the application of any applicant for a credential to practice a health profession on the basis that the education or training program that the applicant successfully completed did not include integrated multicultural health curriculum as part of its basic instruction.

--- END ---