WSR 17-17-156

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 23, 2017, 9:06 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-918 WAC, Physician assistants and chapter 246-919 WAC, Physicians (allopathic), the medical quality assurance commission (commission) is considering adopting and amending sections of rule to establish requirements for prescribing opioid drugs by allopathic physicians and physician assistants 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 18.71.017, 18.71A.020, 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, board of osteopathic medicine and surgery, and the nursing care quality assurance commission 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 allopathic physicians and physician assistants. 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 Daidria Amelia Underwood, P.O. Box 47866, phone 360-236-2727, fax 360-236-2795, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email daidria.underwood@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested persons will be notified via GovDelivery and asked to participate in public rules meetings and submit written comments for consideration. There is a department of health web site dedicated to the implementation of ESHB 1427 that includes updates on the rule-making activities, http://www.doh.wa.gov/ForPublicHealthandHealthcareProviders/HealthcareProfessionsandFacilities/PainManagement/ESHB1427Implementation. Email inquiries can be sent to painmanagment@doh.wa.gov.

August 23, 2017

Melanie de Leon

Executive Director