WSR 13-19-084

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed September 17, 2013, 3:18 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-550 Acts that may be performed by licensed dental hygienists under general supervision, adding applying topical anesthetics to the list of acts that a licensed dental hygienist may perform under the general supervision of a dentist or without supervision in identified practice settings.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: HB 1330 (chapter 87, Laws of 2013) and RCW 18.32.0365.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The 2013 legislature enacted HB 1330, which amends RCW 18.29.050 and authorizes dental hygienists to apply topical anesthetics under the general supervision of a dentist. WAC 246-817-550 lists the acts a dentist may allow a dental hygienist to perform under the dentist's general supervision. Amending WAC 246-817-550 to include the application of topical anesthetics will provide a single reference source for both dentists and dental hygienists about these authorized acts.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Department of Health, Dental Quality Assurance Commission, Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 236-4893, jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov. Interested stakeholders may sign up for the commission's listserv at http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=dental-qac&A=1. All rule-making notices will be e-mailed to the commission's interested parties list (listserv) and appropriate state associations. Rule drafting will take place in open public meetings where comments will be accepted verbally and in writing.

September 17, 2013

Blake T. Maresh

Executive Director