Original Notice.

Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).

Title of Rule: WAC 246-918-005 Definitions, 246-918-007 Application withdrawals, 246-918-050 Physician assistant qualifications effective July 1, 1999, and 246-918-080 Physician assistant -- Licensure.

Purpose: These rules detail the qualification required by statute for obtaining a license to practice as a physician assistant.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71A.020.

Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 18.71A RCW.

Summary: During the 1999 legislative session (chapter 127, Laws of 1999) the legislature determined the requirements for physician assistant licensure should be consistent with the national standard. This proposal updates the rules to reflect the statutory changes. This proposal also will be for general housekeeping for clear and concise language.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rules will move the physician assistants to the federal standard which will make it easier to move state to state.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Beverly A. Teeter, Health Administrator, 1300 S.E. Quince Street, Olympia, WA, (360) 236-4788; and Enforcement: Maryella Jansen, Acting Executive Director, 1300 S.E. Quince Street, Olympia, WA, (360) 236-4789.

Name of Proponent: Medical Quality Assurance Commission and Department of Health, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: These rules implement statutory changes that revised the qualifications for licensure as a physician assistant in order to be consistent with national standards. The changes to rules update language to correspond with the statutory change, as well as outlining the process for issuance of an interim permit and general housekeeping for clear and concise language.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: The changes update the rules language in accordance with the statute changes.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed language is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) and 34.05.310(4) because the rule implements recent statutory changes on qualifications and updates language to correspond with accrediting programs.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. These are procedural rules relating to revising language to conform to statutory changes and to the process for making application for an interim permit.

Hearing Location: Phoenix Inn, 415 Capitol Way North, Olympia Room, Olympia, WA 98501, on July 11, 2001, at 7:00 p.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Beverly A. Teeter by June 30, 2001, TDD (800) 833-6388, or (360) 236-4788.

Submit Written Comments to: Beverly A. Teeter, fax (360) 586-4573, by July 6, 2001.

Date of Intended Adoption: July 11, 2001.

May 25, 2001

Maryella E. Jansen

Acting Executive Director

OTS-4812.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 96-03-073, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96)

WAC 246-918-005   Definitions.   The following terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Certified physician assistant" means an individual who has successfully completed an ((American Medical Association)) accredited and commission approved physician assistant program and has passed the initial national boards examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

(2) "Physician assistant" means an individual who ((has)) either:

(a) Successfully completed an ((American Medical Association)) accredited and commission approved physician assistant program ((and)), is eligible for the NCCPA examination and was licensed in Washington state prior to July 1, 1999;

(b) Qualified based on work experience and education and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989; ((or))

(c) Graduated from an international medical school and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989; or

(d) Holds an interim permit issued pursuant to RCW 18.71A.020(1).

(3) "Physician assistant-surgical assistant" means an individual who was licensed as a physician assistant between September 30, 1989, and December 31, 1989, to function in a limited extent as authorized in WAC 246-918-230.

(4) "Licensee" means an individual ((licensed)) credentialed as a certified physician assistant, physician assistant, or physician assistant-surgical assistant.

(5) "Commission approved program" means a physician assistant program ((that maintains Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation standards as defined in the "essentials" of the council of medical education of the American Medical Association)) accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA); the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP); the Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA); or any successive accrediting organizations.

(6) "Sponsoring physician" means the physician who is responsible for consulting with a certified physician assistant. An appropriate degree of supervision is involved.

(7) "Supervising physician" means the physician who is responsible for closely supervising, consulting, and reviewing the work of a physician assistant.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, 246-918-005, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020 and 18.71.060. 93-21-016, 246-918-005, filed 10/11/93, effective 11/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 92-12-089 (Order 278B), 246-918-005, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, 246-918-007, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 92-12-089 (Order 278B), 246-918-007, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, 246-918-050, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 91-06-030 (Order 147B), recodified as 246-918-050, filed 2/26/91, effective 3/29/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020. 89-20-023, 308-52-165, filed 9/27/89, effective 10/28/89.]

(2) No physician assistant or physician assistant-surgical assistant shall begin practice without commission approval of the practice plan of that working relationship. Practice plans must be submitted on forms provided by the commission.

(3) Changes or additions in supervision. In the event that a physician assistant or physician assistant-surgical assistant who is currently ((licensed)) credentialed desires to become associated with another physician, he or she must submit a new practice plan. See WAC 246-918-110 regarding termination of working relationship.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, 246-918-080, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, 246-918-080, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 91-06-030 (Order 147B), recodified as 246-918-080, filed 2/26/91, effective 3/29/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020. 89-06-077 (Order PM 822), 308-52-139, filed 3/1/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 88-21-047 (Order PM 782), 308-52-139, filed 10/13/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020. 88-06-008 (Order PM 706), 308-52-139, filed 2/23/88; 86-12-031 (Order PM 599), 308-52-139, filed 5/29/86; 82-24-013 (Order PL 412), 308-52-139, filed 11/19/82; 81-03-078 (Order PL 368), 308-52-139, filed 1/21/81; 80-15-031 (Order PL-353), 308-52-139, filed 10/8/80; 78-04-029 (Order PL 285, Resolution No. 78-140), 308-52-139, filed 3/14/78.]

Washington State Code Reviser's Office