WSR 19-21-052
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed October 10, 2019, 2:25 p.m., effective February 1, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: February 1, 2020.
Purpose: WAC 246-919-990 Physician and surgeon fees and renewal cycle and 246-918-990 Physician assistants fees and renewal cycle, the adopted rules increase renewal fees and late renewal penalties for physicians and physician assistants. The Washington medical commission (commission) and department of health (department) project this program's fund balance to fall into a nearly -$6.7 million deficit by the end of the 2019-21 biennium. RCW
43.70.250 requires licensing programs to be self-supporting and department policy and office of financial management guidelines require professions to have a sufficient reserve to cover unexpected costs. The adopted fees are needed to generate sufficient revenue to align revenues with the costs of regulating allopathic physicians and physician assistants, correct the projected deficit, and maintain a reserve to cover unanticipated costs.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-919-990 and 246-918-990.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 19-08-090 on April 3, 2019.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The adopted rule was changed from the proposed version in response to stakeholder comments and concerns. Due to significant feedback from licensees and stakeholders, the proposed fee increase for renewals was reduced from $880 to $824 for physicians and from $265 to $247 for physician assistants. Late penalties are calculated using set standards. Because of the adjustments to the renewal fees, it was necessary to adjust the late renewal fee for physician assistants from $130 to $124. The late renewal fee for the physicians did not need adjusting as the calculated amount did not change.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 8, 2019.
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-20-050, filed 9/30/15, effective 1/1/16)
WAC 246-918-990Physician assistants fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Licenses must be renewed every two years on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.
(2) The applicant or licensee must pay the following nonrefundable fees:
Title of Fee | Fee |
Physician assistants: |
Original application (((annual)* | $116.00)) |
| Application | $50.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 16.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge | 50.00 |
Active license renewal | |
| Two-year renewal((* | 202.00)) 247.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 32.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 100.00 |
| Late renewal fee | ((50.00)) 124.00 |
| Expired license reissuance | 50.00 |
Retired active license renewal | |
| Two-year renewal((** | 135.00)) 35.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 100.00 |
| Late renewal fee | 35.00 |
Duplicate license | 15.00 |
* | (( Includes)) The Washington physician health program surcharge (RCW 18.71A.020(3)) is assessed at $50.00 per year, and the University of Washington (UW) HEAL-WA web portal access fee (RCW 43.70.110) assessed at $16.00 per year. |
** | ((Includes))The Washington physician health program surcharge is assessed at $50.00 per year. |
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-19-088, filed 9/18/12, effective 11/1/12)
WAC 246-919-990Physician and surgeon fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Licenses must be renewed every two years on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2, except postgraduate training limited licenses.
(2) Postgraduate training limited licenses must be renewed every year to correspond to the program's date.
(3) A retired active physician who resides and practices in Washington and obtains or renews a retired active license is exempt from all licensing fees except for the impaired physician program surcharge authorized by RCW
18.71.310.
(4) The applicants and licensees must pay the following nonrefundable fees:
((Title of Fee | Fee |
Physicians and surgeons: Chapter 18.71 RCW |
Application (annual)* | $491.00 |
Two-year renewal* | 657.00 |
Late renewal penalty | 262.50 |
Expired license reissuance | 262.50 |
Certification of license | 50.00 |
Duplicate license | 15.00 |
Temporary permit | 50.00 |
Application fee for transitioning from a postgraduate training limited license (annual)* | 166.00 |
Retired active physicians and surgeons: (Two-year cycle) |
Retired active physician who resides and practices in-state per RCW 18.71.080 and 18.130.250 (Washington physician health program surcharge) | 100.00 |
Retired active physician license renewal *(does not meet in-state exemption) | 332.00 |
Retired active late renewal penalty | 50.00 |
Postgraduate limited license fees: RCW 18.71.095 (One-year cycle) | |
Limited license application* | 391.00 |
Limited license renewal* | 391.00 |
Limited duplicate license | 15.00)) |
Title of Fee | Fee |
Original application | |
| Application | $425.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 16.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 50.00 |
Active license renewal | |
| Two-year renewal | 824.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 32.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 100.00 |
| Late renewal penalty | 300.00 |
| Expired license reissuance | 262.50 |
Retired active license renewal | |
| Two-year renewal (only includes Washington physician health program surcharge)** | 100.00 |
Retired active license renewal (does not meet in-state exemption) | |
| Two-year renewal | 200.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 32.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 100.00 |
| Late renewal penalty | 100.00 |
Verification of license | 50.00 |
Duplicate license | 15.00 |
Temporary permit | 50.00 |
Transitioning from postgraduate training limited license | |
| Application fee | 100.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 16.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 50.00 |
(One-year cycle) | |
Original application | |
| Application | 325.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 16.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 50.00 |
Limited license renewal (One-year cycle) | |
| Renewal | 325.00 |
| UW HEAL-WA surcharge* | 16.00 |
| Washington physician health program surcharge* | 50.00 |
| Limited duplicate license | 15.00 |
* | (( The application or renewal fee includes:)) The Washington physician health program surcharge (RCW 18.71.310(2)) is assessed at $50.00 per year, and the University of Washington (UW) HEAL-WA web portal access fee (RCW 43.70.110) is assessed at $16.00 per year. |