WSR 17-17-142

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 22, 2017, 3:29 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-840 WAC, the nursing care quality assurance commission (commission) is considering adopting and amending sections of rule to establish requirements for prescribing opioid drugs by advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) as directed by ESHB 1427. The commission will also consider amending the current pain management rules to be consistent with the new opioid prescribing rules.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.79.110, 18.79.400, and ESHB 1427 (chapter 297, Laws of 2017).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESHB 1427 directs the commission, as well as the podiatric medical board, dental quality assurance commission, medical quality assurance commission, and board of osteopathic medicine and surgery to adopt rules establishing requirements for prescribing opioid drugs for seven health professions. ESHB 1427 allows exemptions based on education, training, amount of opioids prescribed, patient panel, and practice environment. These rules will pertain to ARNPs. The commission will also review its current pain management rules for possible revisions consistent with the new opioid prescribing rules. The five boards and commissions intend to coordinate their efforts as much as possible to promote consistency.

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 Carole Reynolds, Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-4785, fax 360-236-4738, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email carole.reynolds@doh.wa.gov.

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 nursing commission's interested parties list (nursing GovDelivery) and appropriate state associations. Individuals will be able to participate in open public meetings where comments will be accepted verbally and in writing. There is a department of health web site dedicated to the implementation of ESHB 1427, http://www.doh.wa.gov/ForPublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/HealthcareProfessionsandFacilities/PainManagement/ESHB1427Implementation, that includes updates on the rule-making activities. Email inquiries can also be sent to painmanagment@doh.wa.gov.

August 22, 2017

Paula R. Meyer MSN, RN, FRE

Executive Director