WSR 18-06-026
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed February 27, 2018, 1:28 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 17-19-011.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-817-441 Dentist suicide prevention education, creating a new section to establish a one-time continuing education requirement for dentists in suicide prevention.
Hearing Location(s): On April 20, 2018, at 9:35 a.m., at the Department of Health, Point Plaza East Room 152/153, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 20, 2018.
Submit Written Comments to: Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, email https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview, fax 360-236-2901, by April 13, 2018.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennifer Santiago, phone 360-236-4893, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388, or 711, email jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov, by April 13, 2018.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rule implements E2SHB 1612 (chapter 262, Laws of 2017) codified as RCW 43.70.442. The law amended RCW 43.70.442 by adding dentists to the list of professionals required to complete a one-time continuing education in suicide prevention. The proposed rule requires dentists to take a one-time, three-hour training in suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 43.70.442 requires the commission to determine a three or six hour education requirement. The commission determined three hours was sufficient to include content related to the assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means, since dentist[s] will only screen and refer patients. The educational requirements proposed in this new rule will increase dentist's knowledge and understanding of suicidal ideation and better prepare dentists if they encounter suicidal patients. The goal of RCW 43.70.442 is to save the lives of Washington residents, and the commission proposes to achieve that goal through establishment of this rule.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.32.002 and 18.32.0365.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 43.70.442.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Dental quality assurance commission, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Jennifer Santiago, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, 360-236-4893.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4893, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov.
The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. The proposed rule does not impose costs on businesses.
John B. Carbery, DMD, Chairperson
Dental Quality Assurance Commission
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-817-441 Dentist suicide prevention education.
Effective August 1, 2020, a licensed dentist must complete a commission-approved one-time training that is at least three hours in length for suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means elements.
(1) This training must be completed by the end of the first full continuing education reporting period after August 1, 2020, or during the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later.
(2) Training accepted by the commission must be on the department's model list as authorized in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 14.
(3) A licensed dentist who has successfully completed the suicide assessment, treatment, and management curriculum in RCW 43.70.447, by the school of dentistry at the University of Washington prior to licensure is exempt from the training requirement in this section.
(4) Training completed between July 23, 2017, and August 1, 2020, that meets the requirements of subsection (2) or (3) of this section, is accepted as meeting the one-time training requirement of this section.
(5) The hours spent completing the training in suicide assessment under this section count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements for dentist license renewal.