Subject of Possible Rule Making: Continuing education (CE) requirements for osteopathic physicians. The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery (board) is considering amending WAC 246-853-080 to update CE requirements for licensure renewal of osteopathic physicians to clarify Washington-specific mandated CE requirements.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board recently adopted a new health equity CE rule in WAC 246-853-075 to implement ESSB 5229 (chapter 276, Laws of 2021). ESSB 5229 directs the board to adopt rules establishing the standards for health equity CE, which must be completed at least once every four years.

Currently, WAC 246-853-080 Continuing education, does not refer to the new rule in WAC 246-853-075 or mention the new health equity CE requirement. The current requirements outlined in WAC 246-853-080 state that holding a current national certification or recognition award may fulfill all CE requirements, which does not include a provision to require inclusion of health equity or any other Washington-specific mandated CE. Amending this rule is needed to ensure osteopathic physicians are aware that they are required to take the health equity training requirement and all other legislatively mandated CE.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Becky McElhiney, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4766, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email osteopathic@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov/osteo.

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 board will use existing GovDelivery lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. To find out more information about our rule making, visit www.doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new?topic_id=WADOH_153 and select "Osteopathic Board."