OLYMPIA—Washington’s health care system is continuously evolving and in constant need of review and adjustment to best serve the citizens of the Evergreen State. Today, recognizing that need and working to ensure equal access and appropriate care for all residents, the Washington State House of Representatives passed a series of health care-related bills. These bills address a variety of areas, ranging from the practice of “dry needling” to prescription of hydrocodone.
“Equal access to health care is important for all Washingtonians, from Spokane to Vancouver,” said Rep. Eileen Cody, Chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee. “Making sure everyone has access to the care they need and health care providers have the necessary tools to care for their patients is of fundamental importance to House Democrats.”
While some of the bills changed rules regarding scope of practice with health care professionals, others expanded rules to give providers more flexibility in treating their patients.
“Health care professionals need the right tools to properly serve their patients,” said Rep. Marcus Riccelli, co-sponsor of bipartisan legislation that allows for hydrocodone to be prescribed by optometrists. “As lawmakers, we need to provide those tools, while making sure everyone is working within their profession. Washington state patients deserve to have competent, trained health care professionals.”
A summary of each bill is listed below.
HB 1010 gives optometrists the ability to refer patients to occupational therapists.
HB 1042 limits the practice of “dry needling” to acupuncturists, not physical therapists.
HB 1045 creates a formal advisory committee to the Department of Health for East Asian Medicine practices.
HB 1103 allows clinical laboratories to have access to the federal prescription drug monitoring program to help crack down on prescription drug abuse.
HB 1184 adds marriage and family therapists and independent clinical social workers to the list of health care professionals who can access the online clinical resources at the University of Washington Health Sciences Library.
HB 1190 allows optometrists to prescribe hydrocodone to patients, which previously had been a Schedule III drug but was recently reclassified as Schedule II.
HB 1259 allows advanced registered nurse practitioners to sign forms normally required to be signed by a doctor if the ARNP is allowed to perform the exam requiring the doctor’s signature.
HB 1339 gives the Secretary of Health authority to determine if a disciplinary authority impermissibly expanded the scope of practice of a health profession and take steps to resolve the issue.