WSR 19-20-076
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed September 27, 2019, 10:13 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-933-990 Veterinarian fees and renewal cycle and 246-935-990 Veterinary technician fees and renewal cycle, the department of health is considering adding a fee to provide access to the University of Washington's health science library online clinical resources, a web portal referred to as "HEAL-WA." The fee would implement SB 5000 (chapter 140, Laws of 2019) which added veterinarians and veterinary technicians to the list of health profession licensees participating in HEAL-WA. The department will also consider reducing fees for duplication and verification services.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.70.112, 43.70.250, 43.70.280; and SB 5000 (chapter 140, Laws of 2019).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: As dictated by statute, rule making is required to establish the HEAL-WA fee for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The HEAL-WA web portal supports public health by providing the participating practitioners with access to the latest evidence based health care information. Having access to current, peer reviewed, clinical information improves a practitioner's ability to respond to patient questions, develop treatment plans, and deliver quality care to their patients. Fee reductions for duplication and verification of a license is part of the department's effort to standardize these fees across health professional licenses given the amount and type of work to issue such licenses is the same.
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 by contacting Jeff Wise, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47850, Tumwater, WA 98504-7850, phone 360-236-4987, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email jeff.wise@doh.wa.gov.
Additional comments: Interested parties can join the GovDelivery list to get information on participating in the process by subscribing at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. Notices will be emailed through the veterinary and veterinary technician GovDelivery system, and interested parties list. Stakeholders will be invited to participate at a public hearing. Formal invitation for public comment will be sent via GovDelivery and posted on the department of health's rules comments web site.
September 25, 2019
Jessica Todorovich
Chief of Staff
for John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary