WSR 01-18-085

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH


(Medical Quality Assurance Commission)

[ Filed September 5, 2001, 10:04 a.m. ]

Date of Adoption: July 11, 2001.

Purpose: WAC 246-918-005 Definitions, 246-918-007 Application withdrawals, 249-918-050 Physician assistant qualifications effective July 1, 1999, and 246-918-080 Physician assistant -- Licensure. These rules detail the qualifications required by statute for obtaining a license to practice as a physician assistant. 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. The proposal updates the rules to reflect the statutory changes and also general housekeeping for clear and concise language.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-918-005, 246-918-007, 246-918-050, and 246-918-080.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71.050.

Other Authority: Chapter 18.71 RCW.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 01-12-095 on June 6, 2001.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

August 2, 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.]


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

WAC 246-918-007   Application withdrawals.   An application for a license or interim permit may not be withdrawn ((after the commission or the reviewing commission member determines that grounds for denial of the license or the issuance of a conditional license may be appropriate. Applications which are subject to investigation for unprofessional conduct or impaired practice may not be withdrawn)) if grounds for denial exist.

[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.]


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

WAC 246-918-050   Physician assistant qualifications effective ((January 1, 1990)) July 1, 1999.   Individuals applying to the commission under chapter 18.71A RCW after ((December 31, 1989, shall be required to)) July 1, 1999, must have graduated from ((a commission approved)) an accredited physician assistant program approved by the commission and be certified by successful completion of the NCCPA examination ((eligible)): EXCEPT those applying for an interim permit under RCW 18.71A.020(1) who will have one year from issuance of the interim permit to successfully complete the examination.

[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.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)

WAC 246-918-080   Physician assistant -- Licensure.   (1) Application procedure. Applications may be made jointly by the physician and the physician assistant on forms supplied by the commission. Applications and supporting documents must be on file in the commission office prior to consideration for ((licensure)) a license or interim permit.

(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.]

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