WSR 13-15-141 PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [Filed July 23, 2013, 1:04 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-834 WAC, Midwives: Amending WAC 246-834-060 Application requirements for licensure as a midwife and 246-834-220 Credit toward educational requirements for licensure as a midwife; and amending or repealing WAC 246-834-230 Preceptor for midwife-in-training program.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.50.040(3) requires the department to adopt rules to provide credit toward the educational requirements of an applicant for a midwifery license. The rules, which have not been updated since 1991, do not recognize subsequent steps that have been taken nationally to review and approve midwifery training programs. These rules are labor intensive to both applicants and department staff. To remove outdated barriers to licensure for experienced applicants, the department is considering whether activities approved by national credentialing and accrediting bodies may satisfy some or all of the state's education and training requirements.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. The department will hold one or more public workshops to allow attendance in both eastern and western Washington. The workshop or workshops may involve audience participation through video conferencing. Department staff will send notification of workshops to interested parties and the midwifery listserv.
Contact Person: Kendra Pitzler, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 236-4723.
July 23, 2013
John Wiesman DrPH, MPH
Secretary
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