WSR 17-23-124

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed November 17, 2017, 1:19 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-817-420 Specialty representation, the dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amendments to recognized specialties to include the American Board of Dental Specialties (ABDS) boards/areas of specialty and other potential specialties.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.32.002, 18.32.0365, and 18.32.665.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission received a rules petition requesting the commission to recognize ABDS boards/areas of practice specialty in rule. The current rule lists American Dental Association recognized specialties only. There are additional specialty areas in dentistry that could be considered. Rule amendments would establish clear standards for licensed dentists when advertising a specialty. Rule amendments would also provide the public with information to prevent fraud or deceiving advertisements related to the skills or method of practice of the dentist. Advertising of dental specialty provides the public with perception related to the education and skill of the dentist. Clear standards will assist in ensuring the public is not deceived through advertising.

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 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4893, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email jennifer.santiago@doh.wa.gov, web site doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Stakeholders may sign up for the program's interested parties list (GovDelivery) at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. All rule-making notices will be emailed via GovDelivery. Rule development will take place in open public meetings prior to a formal rule proposal and comment period.

November 17, 2017

Trina Crawford

Executive Director