PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-320 WAC, Hospitals, would be amended to include a new section to address SSB 6537, emergency care for sexual assault victims, which passed in the 2002 legislative session.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 70.41 RCW, chapter 116, Laws of 2002.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Chapter 116, Laws of 2002 (SSB 6537) requires every hospital providing emergency care to a victim of sexual assault to provide the victim with medically and factually accurate, unbiased written and oral information about emergency contraception; to orally inform each victim of sexual assault of her option to be provided emergency contraception; and, if not medically contraindicated, to provide emergency contraception immediately at the hospital to each victim of sexual assault who requests it. Rules will help ensure that emergency rooms are aware of the requirements and that information and emergency care is provided consistently among facilities.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Yvette Lenz, Department of Health, Facilities and Services Licensing, 2725 Harrison Avenue N.W., Suite 500, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 705-6661, fax (360) 705-6654, website www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview.
Mary C. Selecky
Secretary