BILL REQ. #:  S-3528.1 

Read first time 01/15/14.   Referred to Committee on Health Care .

     AN ACT Relating to safety equipment for individual providers; and adding a new section to chapter 74.39A RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall develop a methodology to provide personal protective equipment for individual providers to use in the course of providing services to clients who do not receive such equipment under medical assistance. The personal protective equipment must be made available on a monthly basis in a cost-effective and easy to access manner. The amount of personal protective equipment provided must be based on the number of clients that do not have coverage for personal protective equipment and the reasonably anticipated equipment needs that may be expected for the types of hazards that are typically encountered with such clients. The department shall seek federal reimbursement for the cost of personal protective equipment.
     (2) As used in this section, "personal protective equipment" means both sterile and nonsterile gloves worn or used by an individual to protect him or her from the potential transmission of infectious diseases through contact with the bodily fluids of another person. Nonlatex, nonpowdered gloves will be provided where there is a demonstrable need, including those relating to allergic reactions to latex or powder by either the individual provider or his or her client.