SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1629

BYRepresentatives Schoon, Braddock, Brooks, Moyer, Kremen, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, May and Miller

Changing the definition of physician's assistant.

House Committe on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Deccio, Chairman; Kreidler, Niemi, Smith, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Dee Knapp (786-7452)

                  February 22, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & CORRECTIONS, FEBRUARY 22, 1988

BACKGROUND:

A physician assistant is a registered health care practitioner who assists the sponsoring physician in the practice of medicine under the supervision and control of the physician.

An applicant for registration may be a graduate of a foreign medical school or college.

SUMMARY:

After the effective date of this act, a graduate of a foreign medical school may not qualify as an applicant for registration as a physician assistant solely on the basis that he or she is such a graduate.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Foreign medical school graduates remain eligible to register as a physician assistant if they apply on or before July 1, 1989 as long as they do not violate statutory standards of professional conduct or the rules of the board.  The board is to adopt rules regarding applications for registration including board approval of training and a requirement that the original translated transcript be received.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Schoon, prime sponsor (for); Ron Wagner, Washington State Medical Association (for); Vic Picou, Washington Association of Physician Assistants (for); Gloria J. Westerfield, Department of Licensing (for); Shinobu Inoue, Washington Association of Physician Assistants (for)