FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2452

                          C 93 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Making technical changes and corrections to department of health statutes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Parlette, Edwards and Hurst; by request of Department of Health.

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

The Department of Health regulates over 50 health professions and 33 categories of health care facilities.  A number of chapters contain outdated terminology, inaccuracies, and obsolete provisions.

Summary of Bill:

Technical and housekeeping changes are made to the statutory chapters relating to the regulated health professions under the Department of Health.  Terminology is updated and obsolete requirements are eliminated as follows:

Licensed hearing instrument fitters/dispensers, certified audiologists, and permit holders must sign an affidavit verifying compliance with the requirement to hold a surety bond, and the responsibility of the department to retain a copy of the licensee's surety bond is repealed.  A cash deposit or negotiable security in a banking institution may be substituted for a bond.  Up to 25 percent of practitioners may be randomly audited for the requirement of holding the surety bond or equivalent.  Duplicate sections are repealed.

The requirement that adult family home providers must register separately for each home they operate is repealed.  If the home is sold by the operator to another, the license lapses, and the buyer must apply for a separate license.

The authority of the Board of Nursing Home Administrators to address administrative requirements for nursing homes temporarily without administrators is repealed.

Reference to the Examining Board of Psychology as a committee is changed, and its sunset termination dates of June 30 of 2004 and 2005 are repealed.

Reference to "animal technician" is changed to "veterinary technician."

For emergency medical care, definitions of "ambulance operator," "ambulance director," "aid vehicle," and "aid director" are replaced with "ambulance service" and "aid service", respectively, and are conformed in the chapter.  Variances in statutory requirements for paramedics and intermediate life support personnel are permissible.

Reference to "alcoholic" is changed to "chemically dependent person" in treatment establishments and institutions.  Licensees are required to conform to rules adopted by the department, and  the issuing of licenses is conditioned on an examination of all phases of its operation. 

The term of "maternity home" is changed to "birthing center," and means a health facility that provides facilities and staff to support a birth service to low-risk maternity clients.  It replaces the definition as a place caring for up to four persons maintaining care during pregnancy and within 10 days after delivery.  Definitions of "low-risk" and "person" are also added.  The  department must consult with the state midwives association in adopting rules on birthing centers.

The authority of osteopathic physicians' assistants to practice acupuncture is repealed, as persons practicing acupuncture are licensed as acupuncturists.  Osteopathic physician assistants may continue practicing as long as the physician assistant license is maintained.

The practice of diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic technologists is clarified to include parenteral procedures related to radiologic technology when performed under the direct supervision of a physician.

Renewal of a license to practice respiratory care is conditioned upon taking 30 hours of continuing education approved by the secretary of the Department of Health every two years.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate450(Senate amended)

House970(House concurred)

Effective:June 8, 2000*