Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care & Wellness Committee
HB 1378
Brief Description: Concerning the supervision of medical assistants.
Sponsors: Representatives Ybarra, Cody and Dolan.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows medical assistants assisting with a telemedicine visit to be supervised through interactive audio and video telemedicine technology.
Hearing Date: 2/8/21
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

The Department of Health licenses four different types of medical assistants:  medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-registered, medical assistants-phlebotomist, and medical assistants-hemodialysis technician.  Each type of medical assistant must be supervised by a health care practitioner, including a physician, an osteopathic physician, a podiatric physician, a registered nurse, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, a naturopath, a physician assistant, or an optometrist.  In most cases, the health care practitioner must be physically present and immediately available.  The health care practitioner does not need to be present during procedures to withdraw blood, but must be immediately available.
Summary of Bill:

During a telemedicine visit, supervision over a medical assistant assisting the health care practitioner with the telemedicine visit may be provided through interactive audio and video telemedicine technology.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 5, 2021.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately, except for section 2, which, because of a double amendment, takes effect July 1, 2022.