HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1093

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care

Title:  An act relating to increasing the license surcharge for the impaired physician program.

Brief Description:  Changing physician license fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Schual‑Berke, Ballasiotes, Cody, Campbell, Ruderman, Skinner, Conway, Edmonds, Kenney and Kagi.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/25/01, 2/13/01 [DPS].

  Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Raises the $25 annual surcharge on physician licenses to no more than $35 to fund the Impaired Physicians Program.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Skinner, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Conway, Darneille, Edmonds, Edwards, Marine, McMorris, Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  John Welsh (786‑7133).

Background:

A statutory surcharge of $25 is added to a licensing fee or license renewal fee of physicians to finance the Impaired Physician Program.  The Medical Quality Assurance Commission is required by law to enter into a contract with a professional entity which provides evaluation and treatment services to physicians impaired as a result of chemical abuse or mental illness to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to their patients.

Summary of  Substitute Bill:

The statutory surcharge of $25 for financing the Impaired Physician Program is raised to no more than $35.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Annual inflationary increases in the surcharge is deleted.  References to the license surcharge for physician assistants is also deleted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Raises in the surcharge for funding the impaired physician program are necessary to provide needed services to impaired physicians.

Testimony Against:  None against the substitute bill.

Testified:  (In support) Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association; and Lynn Hankes, Washington Physicians Health Program.

(With concerns/original bill) Sue Shoblom, Department of Health; and Jeff Larsen, Washington Academy of Physician Assistants and Washington Osteopathic Medical Association.