HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5903

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care

Appropriations

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

Brief Description:  Changing physician license fees.

Sponsors:  By Senators Winsley, Franklin, Costa and Thibaudeau.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  3/29/01 [DP];

Appropriations:  3/31/01, 4/2/01 [DP].

Brief Summary of 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:  Do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Schual‑Berke, Democratic Vice 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 for financing 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  Bill:

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

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  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.

Testified:  Senator Winsley, prime sponsor; and Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Sehlin, Republican Co‑Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co‑Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; Lisk, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Fromhold, Grant, Kagi, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, Mastin, McIntire, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, D. Schmidt, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Lambert and Mulliken.

Staff:  Linda Brooks (786‑7153).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Health Care:

No new changes were recommended.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This increase in the fee surcharge will help to expand the services offered through the Impaired Physicians' Program, particularly in the area of mental health services.   The original $25 surcharge was imposed more than a decade ago when the program was first created.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.