WSR 25-17-019

WITHDRAWAL OF

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed August 11, 2025, 11:12 a.m.]

This memo serves as notice that the board of osteopathic medicine and surgery (board) is withdrawing the CR-101 for general provisions for opioid prescribing and tapering rules, which was filed February 1, 2024, and published under WSR 24-04-066.

The board has decided to withdraw this CR-101 and will reconsider a new rule project with an expanded scope related to opioid prescribing to align with the Washington medical commission's (WMC) recently filed CR-101 related to opioid prescribing.

The board initially filed WSR 24-04-066 to consider amendments exempting patients with certain health conditions from opioid prescribing requirements. The purpose of this rule project was to align with the recently updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and subsequent rule amendments by WMC.

Since the official filing of the board's CR-101 under WSR 24-04-066, WMC received a formal rules petition to consider additional amendments to their general opioid prescribing rules. In response to the petition, WMC filed a CR-101 on April 30, 2025, under WSR 25-10-039 to consider updates to all opioid prescribing rule sections for allopathic physicians and physician assistants.

The board works to remain consistent with WMC, as osteopathic physicians and allopathic physicians regularly provide care in the same settings. Maintaining consistency with WMC makes it easier to apply rule standards in the complex health care regulatory environment and easier for licensees to understand.

To remain consistent with WMC's rule updates, the board has decided to withdraw their current CR-101 and reconsider opening rules with a more expanded scope to all opioid prescribing sections, once WMC has concluded their project.

Individuals requiring information on this rule should contact Becky McElhiney at osteopathic@doh.wa.gov.

Tami M. Thompson

Deputy Director of Regulatory Affairs