Subject of Possible Rule Making: Podiatric physician and surgeon health equity continuing education. The podiatric medical board (board) is considering amending WAC 246-922-300 and 246-922-310 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. The board will also consider whether additional CE hours and course topics should be included.

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 of health (department) to create model rules establishing minimum standards for health equity CE programs. The department adopted rules for health equity CE minimum requirements as WSR 22-23-167 on November 23, 2022. Any rules developed by the board for licensed podiatric physicians must meet or exceed the minimum standards in the model rules found in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.

The goal of health equity CE training is to ensure that health care professionals complete health equity training and that 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 Megan Maxey, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4945, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email megan.maxey@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov/podiatry, https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The board will be conducting rules workshops with interested parties and subject matter experts. The department will use existing GovDelivery lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. A broad approach to engagement was used in the development of the health equity model rules which will be used to include community members, community organizations, and health equity experts in the further development of these rules. To find out more information about our rule making, visit www.doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit www.doh.wa.gov and select the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the page. After signing in, click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions," and then click on the "Podiatry Program." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions listed to received information related to that specific profession.