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On Friday, October 20, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) held its regular business meeting and a rules hearing virtually. The WMC holds business meetings that are open to the public several times a year both virtually and in-person.? A list of upcoming meetings and events can be found on our Meetings webpage, and all events can be seen on the WMC calendar of events.
Background
The Administrative Procedures Act outlines the rulemaking process in Washington. An agency or department must file a CR-101; which is a notice to the public that they intend to write a rule. The second step, the CR-102, includes draft language and an opportunity to comment. The CR-103 is the final, adopted rule. Once finalized, rules are added to the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Health Equity Rule CR-102 Hearing
The WMC held a hearing on the CR-102 for the new Health Equity Rule. This rule addresses new requirements for Health Equity Training as passed by the legislature in ESSB 5229. ?
The bill found that, ?health equity continuing education courses may be taken in addition to or, if a rule-making authority determines the course fulfills existing continuing education requirements, in place of other continuing education requirements imposed by the rule-making authority.?
Employing this definition, the WMC voted to adopt the proposed rule which adds two hours of health equity education to the current continuing education (CE) requirements every four years. The proposed rule does not change total CE hours; this training is absorbed into the existing number of CE hours required.
No questions or comments were offered. WMC will move forward to the CR-103, the adoption phase of the rulemaking process.
Business Meeting
The WMC business meeting started at 9:00 a.m. Dr. Karen Domino, Chair, opened the floor for public comment regarding agenda items. WMC received comment from the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP) regarding the legislatively requested Naturopathic Physician Scope of Practice Sunrise Review being done by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
The sunrise review addresses a proposal to increase the naturopathic physician scope of practice and includes, among other additions, the ability to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances.
Any member of the public may submit comments on the sunrise review via email until 5 p.m. on November 20, 2023 at [email protected]. More information on the contents of the sunrise review can be found on the DOH Sunrise Review page.
The WMC commissioners unanimously voted to submit a letter to DOH in the sunrise review process.
Rules Votes: The WMC was presented with a request to move forward two rules:
- The proposed rule for?Postgraduate Medical Training was voted on. It amends WAC 246-919-330 thereby eliminating the outdated requirement for consecutive years of training in no more than two programs. This change would remove a barrier for qualified applicants to obtain licensure.
- The proposed rule for?Physicians and Physician Assistants General Provision for Opioid Prescribing and Tapering Rules was voted on. It aims to modernize the language, add clarity, and bring the rules more in line with current practice.?
The WMC was presented with a request to initiate rules on two issues:
- Changing the interpretation of WAC 246-919-601, regulating the use of analgesia, anesthesia, and sedation in office-based settings, to exempt the use of nitrous oxide from the requirements if three new requirements are met. The WMC voted to adopt the interpretive statement on the WAC and to start rulemaking.
- Creating a definition of ?qualified physician? under the new law created by ESSB 5389, which expanded the scope of optometry to include certain advanced procedures. The new law does not define the term ?qualified physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW.? The WMC can define this term in a rule. This will involve collaboration with the Board of Optometry and input from the public. The WMC voted to start rulemaking.
Notice of rulemaking activities, progress, and space for public comment will be posted on the WMC website here: https://wmc.wa.gov/policies-rules/rules-and-regulations-progress.
The next public WMC meeting will be Policy for Interested Parties?in December, follow the link to register. The link to register for the January 19, 2024 WMC Business Meeting can be found here.?
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