Subject of Possible Rule Making: Sex offender treatment provider health equity continuing education rules. The department of health (department) is considering amending WAC 246-930-410 Continuing education requirements, to adopt the health equity continuing education (CE) model rules, WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830, to comply with RCW 43.70.613 and ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021). The department will also consider whether additional CE hours and course topics should be included. The department may also make amendments to update, clarify, and streamline this section as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: By January 1, 2024, RCW 43.70.613(1) requires each health profession credentialed under RCW 18.130.040 with a CE requirement to adopt rules requiring completion of health equity CE training at least once every four years. RCW 43.70.613 (3)(b) also directed the department to create model rules establishing minimum standards for health equity CE programs. The department adopted model rules in November 2022. Any rules developed for sex offender treatment providers must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the model rules found at WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.

The goal of health equity CE training is to equip health care workers with the skills to recognize and reduce health inequities in their daily work. The content of the health equity trainings include instruction on skills to address structural factors, such as bias, racism, and poverty, which manifest as health inequities.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Brandon Williams, P.O. Box 47850, Olympia, WA 98504-7850, phone 360-236-4611, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email brandon.williams@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The department will be conducting rules workshops with interested parties and subject matter experts. The department will use the GovDelivery sex offender treatment provider list to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language.

To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit www.doh.wa.gov, and select the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the page. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions," and then click on "Sex Offender Treatment Provider." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions listed to receive information related to that specific profession.