WSR 17-10-045

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed April 28, 2017, 9:29 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-12-XXX Closure of abandoned incomplete health care credential applications, the department is considering a new rule to allow closing a health care credential application that has remained incomplete for more than three hundred days.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.70.280.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department receives about eight thousand health care profession or facility credential applications each year that have incomplete or missing elements that prevent the department from processing the application and issuing the applicant a registration, certification or license. Despite sending notices to the applicants, the department was holding open several thousand applications that remained incomplete for several years. As a result, the department established an internal procedure to close an application as "abandoned" if it remains incomplete for more than three hundred calendar days. The department is now considering adopting elements of the internal procedure into rule, including reapplication requirements.

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. The department welcomes stakeholder input during rule development. Draft rules will be shared via listservs for each of the department programs, health care professions that use this chapter, and with health care profession boards, commissions, and advisory committees prior to a formal proposal. Individuals wishing to receive information or notices about this rule making may contact Nancy Elliott, department of health, health systems quality assurance division, Nancy.Elliott@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-4878.

April 8, 2017

John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary