Subject of Possible Rule Making: Updating dentist licensure fees in WAC 246-817-990 to add surcharge for the impaired practitioner program. The department of health (department), in consultation with the dental quality assurance commission (commission), is considering rule amendments to add the Washington physicians health program (WPHP) impaired practitioner surcharge to initial licensure for dentists. Other general housekeeping may be considered to remove outdated information concerning fees that expired in 2025.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.534, 43.70.110, 43.70.250, and 43.70.280.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: As required by RCW 18.32.534, the commission contracts with WPHP to implement and operate an impaired practitioner program. Contracts with WPHP are financed by a surcharge applied to the dentist license.

Currently, WAC 246-817-990 only provides for collection of the WPHP surcharge on license renewal. To adequately fund the commission's contract with WPHP, the department is considering adding the surcharge to initial licensure as authorized by RCW 18.32.534.

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

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Heather Cantrell, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, TTY 711, email HSQAfeerules@doh.wa.gov, website doh.wa.gov or https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Additional comments: Rule-making notices will be delivered via the GovDelivery program name list. To receive notices, interested persons may sign up for any or all of the lists. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then click on "Dental List." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions listed to receive information related to that specific profession.