FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 6283
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
C 138 L 14
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Clarifying the practice of a phlebotomist.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Becker, Bailey and Keiser).
Senate Committee on Health Care
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness
Background: The Department of Health (DOH) issues four types of medical assistant licenses: certified, registered, hemodialysis technician, and phlebotomist. Certification as a phlebotomist requires successful completion of a phlebotomy education or training program and demonstrated proficiency in procedural standards and techniques for blood collection. Persons credentialed as medical assistant-phlebotomist or medical assistant-certified may perform capillary, venous, or arterial invasive procedures for blood withdrawal under the general supervision of a qualified health care practitioner.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulates all laboratory testing, except research, performed on humans in the United States through Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The purpose of CLIA is to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results. Requirements are based on the complexity of a particular laboratory test and may be waived for simple tests determined to carry a low risk of error.
Persons licensed as medical assistant-certified and medical assistant-registered may perform tests waived under CLIA as of July 1, 2013. They may also perform moderate complexity tests if they meet certain federal educational and training standards for personnel qualifications and responsibilities for nonwaived testing. DOH must periodically update the list of permitted waived tests based on changes made under CLIA.
Summary: Medical assistant-phlebotomists may perform the following: (1) tests waived under CLIA as of July 1, 2013; (2) moderate and high-complexity tests if they meet federal educational and training standards for personnel qualifications and responsibilities for non-waived testing; and (3) electrocardiograms. DOH must update the list of permitted waived tests periodically based on changes made under CLIA.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 47 | 0 | |
House | 94 | 3 | (House amended) |
House | 96 | 1 | (House receded/amended) |
Senate | 48 | 0 | (Senate concurred) |
Effective: | June 12, 2014 |