SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1893
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Health & Long Term Care, February 23, 2022
Title: An act relating to allowing emergency medical technicians to provide medical evaluation, testing, and vaccines outside of an emergency in response to a public health agency request.
Brief Description: Allowing emergency medical technicians to provide medical evaluation, testing, and vaccines outside of an emergency in response to a public health agency request.
Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Donaghy, Riccelli, Leavitt, Simmons, Slatter, Tharinger, Berg, Taylor, Frame, Macri, Harris-Talley and Pollet; by request of Department of Health).
Brief History: Passed House: 2/10/22, 88-5.
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 2/21/22, 2/23/22 [DP, w/oRec].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Amends the definition of emergency medical technician to include providing collaborative medical care.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Ranking Member; Conway, Holy, Keiser, Randall, Rivers, Robinson, Sefzik and Van De Wege.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senator Padden.
Staff: Julie Tran (786-7283)
Background:

Emergency Medical Services Personnel.  Emergency medical service (EMS) means medical treatment and care which may be rendered at the scene of any medical emergency or while transporting any patient in an ambulance to an appropriate medical facility, including ambulance transportation between medical facilities.  EMS personnel are certified by the Department of Health (DOH).  There are four primary categories of EMS personnel—paramedics; emergency medical technicians (EMTs); advanced emergency medical technicians (AEMTs); and emergency medical responders, also known as first responders.  EMS personnel may only provide services within the scope of care established in the curriculum of the person's level of certification or any specialized training.
 
An EMT is defined as a person who is authorized by the Secretary of Health to render emergency medical care or under the responsible supervision and direction of an approved medical director to participate in an emergency services supervisory organization or a community assistance referral and education services program if the participation does not exceed the participant's training and certification.

 

Authority to Administer Vaccines.  DOH issued a policy statement effective October 1, 2020, which states that it is within the scope of practice for an EMT, AEMT, or paramedic to administer a vaccination under certain conditions, which includes when:

  • there is a state or local declaration of an emergency;
  • the EMS personnel has completed any specialized training approved by the EMS medical program director (MPD) and received approval from the MPD to perform the skill;
  • the EMS personnel are acting under the medical oversight and direction of the county MPD or an MPD delegate physician such as the local health officer and a department-approved MPD protocol is in place;
  • the EMS personnel are affiliated with a licensed EMS service, and the EMS service is coordinating this activity with appropriate organizations authorized to conduct community surveillance of infectious disease; and
  • the vaccines are managed in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
Summary of Bill:

The 2020 DOH policy allowing EMTs to administer vaccines under certain conditions is codified and expanded to include communicable disease response outside of a state of emergency.  
 
An EMT's duty to render emergency medical care may include providing collaborative medical care if the participation or provision of collaborative medical care does not exceed the participant's training and certification.
 
"Collaborative medical care" means medical treatment and care provided pursuant to agreements with local, regional, or state public health agencies to control and prevent the spread of communicable diseases which is rendered separately from emergency medical service.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  EMTs have played a critical role in the response to the pandemic.  EMTs are trained to provide these services but the law limits the services EMTs can provide.  This bill allows EMTs to provide non-emergent services and be able to administer vaccines and conduct testing after the COVID state of emergency is over.  The bill will help increase access to health care, including in rural areas and hard to reach populations.  This bill will also increase equity in response to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people experiencing homelessness, who often bear a disproportionate burden of the impact of communicable diseases.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Brandy Donaghy, Prime Sponsor; Catie Holstein, Washington State Department of Health.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.