WSR 17-17-089

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 17, 2017, 1:56 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-701 through 246-817-790, administration of anesthetic agents for dental procedures. The dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amendments to update general requirements. In addition to general updates, the commission is also considering amendments to address twenty-four hour on-call availability after a complex dental procedure, on-site inspections for all dentists holding sedation permits, and creation of a pediatric sedation endorsement.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.002, 18.32.0365, and 18.32.640.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The current rules have had several recent modifications and a complete review is necessary. Creating a pediatric sedation endorsement may be needed to provide safeguards for the unique sedation needs of pediatric patients. Stakeholders have expressed concern with lack of twenty-four hour on-call availability after complex dental procedures. Current rule requires twenty-four hour on-call availability only when anesthesia is used, there are complex dental procedures that do not involve anesthesia. On-site inspections for dentists holding sedation permits may be necessary to correct who can perform these inspections. There may be instances where an inspection will need to be completed by someone not permitted at the same level as required in current rule.

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 Jennifer Santiago, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA, 98504, phone 360-236-4893, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov, web site https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new.

Additional Comments: Interested stakeholders may sign up for the commission's interested parties list at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. All rule-making notices will be emailed to the dental commission's interested parties list (dental govdelivery) and appropriate state associations. Rule drafting will take place in open p/ublic [public] meetings where comments will be accepted verbally and in writing.

August 17, 2017

Trina Crawford

Executive Director