WSR 97-21-053

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed October 13, 1997, 3:45 p.m.]

Date of Adoption: September 29, 1997.

Purpose: The proposed rule articulates the rights of the licensee and the administrative procedures for the licensee, the commission, and staff of the commission to conduct a review of the decision to revoke a licensee's license.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-919-520.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.019.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 97-15-126 on July 23, 1997.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 1, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

October 6, 1997

Beverly A. Teeter, Administrator

Health Professions Section 5

Medical Quality Assurance Commission

NEW SECTION

WAC 246-919-520 Revocation of a physician's license. This section sets forth the procedure by which a respondent may request a review by the medical quality assurance commission of its decision to revoke the respondent's license under RCW 18.71.019:

(1) If the commission issues a final order revoking a respondent's license following an adjudicative proceeding, the respondent may request a review of the decision by a review panel of the commission.

(2) The respondent shall file a written request with the commission within twenty days of effective date of the final order. The respondent may not request an extension of the twenty-day period to file a request for review.

(3) The respondent's request for review of the final order does not change the effective date of the final order.

(4) A review panel shall review the final order. The review panel is composed of the members of the commission who did not:

(a) Review the initial investigation and make the decision to issue a statement of charges against the respondent in this matter; or

(b) Hear the evidence at the adjudicative proceeding and issue the final order revoking the respondent's license.

(5) Within seven days of receipt of the request for review of the final order, a scheduling order is issued setting a date for the review hearing, and a date for the filing of written argument by the parties. The review hearing must take place within sixty days of the respondent's request for review of the final order.

(6) The review panel shall convene in person for the review hearing on the date set in the scheduling order. If a commission member is unavailable to meet on the scheduled date, a pro tempore member shall take that person's place on the review panel. At the review hearing, the review panel:

(a) Shall review the final order;

(b) Shall review written argument presented by the parties; and

(c) May hear oral argument by the parties.

(7) If the review panel determines that revocation of the respondent's license is not the appropriate sanction, it shall issue an amended order setting the appropriate sanction(s) necessary to protect the public.

(8) If the review panel determines that revocation of the respondent's license is appropriate, it shall issue an order confirming that decision.