Z-1230.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6159
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Talmadge, Moyer and McAuliffe; by request of Department of Health
Read first time 01/14/94. Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to health care professional temporary substitute resource pool; and amending RCW 70.180.020, 70.180.030, and 70.180.040.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 70.180.020 and 1990 c 271 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
The department shall establish ((the)) or
contract for a health professional temporary substitute resource pool. The
purpose of the pool is to provide short-term physician, physician assistant,
pharmacist, and advanced registered nurse practitioner personnel to rural
communities where these health care providers:
(1) Are unavailable due to provider shortages;
(2) Need time off from practice to attend continuing education and other training programs; and
(3) Need time off from practice to attend to personal matters or recover from illness.
The health professional temporary substitute resource pool is intended to provide short-term assistance and should complement active health provider recruitment efforts by rural communities where shortages exist.
Sec. 2. RCW 70.180.030 and 1990 c 271 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The department, in cooperation with (([the]))
the University of Washington school of medicine, the state's registered
nursing programs, the state's pharmacy programs, and other appropriate public
and private agencies and associations, shall develop and keep current a
register of physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, and advanced
registered nurse practitioners who are available to practice on a short-term
basis in rural communities of the state. The department shall ((periodically
screen individuals on the registry for violations of the uniform disciplinary
act as authorized in chapter 18.130 RCW. If a finding of unprofessional
conduct has been made by the appropriate disciplinary authority against any
individual on the registry, the name of that individual shall be removed from
the registry and that person shall be made ineligible for the program. The
department shall include a list of back-up physicians and hospitals who can
provide support to health care providers in the pool)) list only
individuals who have a valid license to practice. The register shall be
compiled((, published,)) and made available to all rural hospitals,
public health departments and districts, rural pharmacies, and other
appropriate public and private agencies and associations. ((The department
shall coordinate with existing entities involved in health professional
recruitment when developing the registry for the health professional temporary
substitute resource pool.))
(2) Eligible health care professionals are those licensed under chapters 18.57, 18.57A, 18.64, 18.71, and 18.71A RCW and advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed under chapter 18.88 RCW.
(3) Participating ((health care
professionals shall receive)) sites may:
(a) Receive reimbursement for substitute provider travel to and from the rural community and for lodging at a rate determined under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060; and
(b) ((Medical)) Receive reimbursement
for the cost of malpractice insurance ((purchased by the department, or
the department may reimburse participants for medical malpractice insurance
premium costs for medical liability while providing health care services in the
program,)) if the services provided are not covered by the ((participant's))
substitute provider's or local provider's existing medical malpractice
insurance((; and
(c) Information on back-up support from other
physicians and hospitals in the area to the extent necessary and available)). Reimbursement for malpractice insurance shall
only be made available to sites that incur additional costs for substitute
provider coverage.
(4) The department may require rural communities to participate in health professional recruitment programs as a condition for providing a temporary substitute health care professional if the community does not have adequate permanent health care personnel. To the extent deemed appropriate and subject to funding, the department may also require communities to participate in other programs or projects, such as the rural health system project authorized in chapter 70.175 RCW, that are designed to assist communities to reorganize the delivery of rural health care services.
(5) ((The department may require a community
match for assistance provided in subsection (3) of this section if it
determines that adequate community resources exist.
(6) The maximum continuous period of time)) A participating ((health professional may
serve in a community is ninety days)) site may receive reimbursement for
substitute provider assistance as provided for in subsection (3) of this
section for up to ninety days during any twelve-month period. The
department may modify or waive this limitation should it determine that the
health and safety of the community warrants a waiver or modification. ((The
community shall be responsible for all salary expenses of participating health
professionals))
(6) Participating sites shall:
(a) Be responsible for all salary expenses for the temporary substitute provider.
(b) Provide the temporary substitute provider with referral and back-up coverage information.
Sec. 3. RCW 70.180.040 and 1990 c 271 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Requests for a temporary substitute health care professional may be made to the department by the certified health plan, local rural hospital, public health department or district, community health clinic, local practicing physician, physician assistant, pharmacist, or advanced registered nurse practitioner, or local city or county government.
(2) The department ((shall)) may
provide directly or contract for services to:
(a) Establish a manner and form for receiving requests;
(b) Minimize paperwork and compliance requirements for participant health care professionals and entities requesting assistance; and
(c) Respond promptly to all requests for assistance.
(3) The department may apply for, receive, and accept gifts and other payments, including property and services, from any governmental or other public or private entity or person, and may make arrangements as to the use of these receipts to operate the pool. The department shall make available upon request to the appropriate legislative committees information concerning the source, amount, and use of such gifts or payments.
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