Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 2351

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes continuing education requirements for medical assistants-certified.

Background:

The Department of Health issues four variants of medical assistant credentials, including medical assistant-certified, medical assistant-hemodialysis technician, medical assistant-phlebotomist, and medical assistant-registered. A medical assistant-certified may perform certain tasks delegated by and under the supervision of a health care practitioner, including sterilizing equipment, taking vital signs, preparing patients for examination, capillary blood withdrawal, administering certain medications, and maintaining records.

Medical assistants-certified must renew their credential every two years and there are no continuing education requirements for renewal.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning January 1, 2021, a medical assistant-certified must complete continuing education requirements established by the Secretary of Health (Secretary) by rule in order to renew their credential. The Secretary must consider continuing education requirements imposed by national credentialing organizations when adopting these rules. A medical assistant-certified that obtains a national credential by passing the examination approved by the Secretary and completes the continuing education necessary to maintain the national credential is considered to have met the continuing education requirements to be established in rule.