HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1453

BYRepresentatives Brooks, Sprenkle, Moyer, Wolfe, Ebersole, Ballard, Braddock and Winsley

Including education and prevention services in the impaired physician program.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A voluntary state program for the detection, intervention and monitoring of physicians impaired by alcohol, substance abuse or mental illness offers an alternative to disciplinary sanctions for unprofessional conduct available to the State Medical Disciplinary Board.  Currently, the emphasis of the program is on treatment in order to restore the physician to a competent state.  Currently, the program is financed by a $15 surcharge on the issuance and renewal of physician licenses.

SUMMARY:

The authority of the Impaired Physicians Program is expanded to include prevention and educational services to physicians with a history of alcohol or drug abuse.  The surcharge of $15 on physician license fees is raised to $25.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 1, 1989.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mike Ryherd, Washington State Medical Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The current surcharge is insufficient to cover the costs of the program.  The program authority should include prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, as well as treatment.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.