DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Washington Medical Commission)

[Filed November 14, 2024, 2:26 p.m., effective December 15, 2024]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Removing references to osteopathic physician assistants. The Washington medical commission (commission) has adopted amendments to WAC 246-918-895 and 246-919-945 to align rule language with currently accepted language.

In 2020, the legislature passed SHB 2378 concerning physician assistants. This bill eliminated the profession of osteopathic physician assistant and placed all physician assistants under the authority of the commission.

As a result of this bill, chapter 246-854 WAC, which pertained to osteopathic physician assistants, was repealed. In both WAC 246-918-895 and 246-919-945, the commission referenced a section to the now-repealed chapter 246-854 WAC. Additionally, these sections referenced both allopathic and osteopathic physician assistants. The commission has adopted amendments that remove the references to chapter 246-854 WAC and to allopathic and osteopathic physician assistants.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-918-895 and 246-919-945.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.017 and SHB 2378 (chapter 80, Laws of 2020).

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 24-15-054 on July 16, 2024.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.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: November 12, 2024.

Washington Medical Commission

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-08-069, filed 3/26/20, effective 4/26/20)

WAC 246-918-895Pain management specialist—Chronic pain.

A pain management specialist shall meet one or more of the following qualifications:

(1) If ((an allopathic))a physician assistant ((or osteopathic physician assistant)) must have a delegation agreement with a physician pain management specialist and meet((s)) the educational requirements and practice requirements listed below:

(a) A minimum of three years of clinical experience in a chronic pain management care setting;

(b) ((Credentialed in pain management by an entity approved by the commission for an allopathic physician assistant or the Washington state board of osteopathic medicine and surgery for an osteopathic physician assistant;

(c))) Successful completion of a minimum of at least ((eighteen))18 continuing education hours in pain management during the past two years; and

(((d)))(c) At least ((thirty))30 percent of the physician assistant's current practice is the direct provision of pain management care or in a multidisciplinary pain clinic.

(2) If an allopathic physician, in accordance with WAC 246-919-945.

(3) If an osteopathic physician, in accordance with WAC 246-853-750.

(4) If a dentist, in accordance with WAC 246-817-965.

(5) If a podiatric physician, in accordance with WAC 246-922-750.

(6) If an advanced registered nurse practitioner, in accordance with WAC 246-840-493.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-23-061, filed 11/16/18, effective 1/1/19)

WAC 246-919-945Pain management specialist—Chronic pain.

A pain management specialist shall meet one or more of the following qualifications:

(1) If an allopathic physician or osteopathic physician:

(a) Is board certified or board eligible by an American Board of Medical Specialties-approved board (ABMS) or by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, rheumatology, or anesthesiology;

(b) Has a subspecialty certificate in pain medicine by an ABMS-approved board;

(d) Is credentialed in pain management by an entity approved by the commission for an allopathic physician or the Washington state board of osteopathic medicine and surgery for an osteopathic physician;

(e) Has a minimum of three years of clinical experience in a chronic pain management care setting; and

(i) Has successful completion of a minimum of at least ((eighteen))18 continuing education hours in pain management during the past two years for an allopathic physician or three years for an osteopathic physician; and

(ii) Has at least ((thirty))30 percent of the allopathic physician's or osteopathic physician's current practice is the direct provision of pain management care or is in a multidisciplinary pain clinic.

(2) If ((an allopathic))a physician assistant, in accordance with WAC 246-918-895.

(3) ((If an osteopathic physician assistant, in accordance with WAC 246-854-330.

(4))) If a dentist, in accordance with WAC 246-817-965.

(((5)))(4) If a podiatric physician, in accordance with WAC 246-922-750.

(((6)))(5) If an advanced registered nurse practitioner, in accordance with WAC 246-840-493.