Uniform Disciplinary Act.

The Uniform Disciplinary Act (UDA) governs health professionals credentialed by the Department of Health (DOH) or one of the health professions' boards or commissions, such as the Medical Commission (Commission).  Depending on the profession, the disciplining authority may be the Secretary of Health (Secretary) or a board or commission.  Under the UDA, a disciplining authority may take action against a license holder for a variety of reasons, including misrepresentation or fraud, unlicensed practice, and the mental or physical inability to practice skillfully or safely.  A disciplining authority may initiate a disciplinary action after receiving a complaint or if the disciplining authority has reason to believe that the licensee engaged in unprofessional conduct.  The Commission is the disciplining authority for allopathic physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and anesthesiologist assistants. 

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. 
In 2017 Washington enacted the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (Medical Compact), which established a process for the issuance of expedited licenses for allopathic physicians and osteopathic physicians and surgeons who are fully licensed in one member state to receive a license in another member state.  The Medical Compact is governed by a commission that includes two representatives from each member state. 

Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. 
In 2024 Washington enacted the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact (PA Compact).  The PA Compact is an agreement between states facilitating the practice of PAs across state lines among states participating in the PA Compact.  A state becomes a member of the PA Compact by enacting legislation allowing a remote state PA to apply for compact privilege to practice in the enacting state, either in person or by telemedicine, upon payment of a compact privilege fee and verification of other requirements. 

Licenses issued through the Medical Compact and the PA Compact are added to the providers subject to the UDA.  The Commission is the disciplining authority for purposes of the UDA over licenses issued through the Medical Compact and PA Compact.