L E G I S L AT I V E A F FA I R S
Session report
OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST Opioid Prevention and Treatment
DEAD
HB 2489 was Governor request legislation to enhance community prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder. This bill requires state agencies to: increase access to evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment services; promote coordination of services within the substance use disorder treatment and recovery support system; strengthen partnerships between opioid use disorder treatment providers and their allied community partners; expand the use of the state prescription drug monitoring program; and support comprehensive school and community-based substance use prevention services. It also requires that agencies administer state purchased health care programs to: (1) Coordinate activities to implement this act and the state interagency opioid working plan; (2) Explore opportunities to address the opioid epidemic; and (3) Provide status updates as directed by the joint legislative executive committee on health care oversight to promote legislative and executive coordination. House: passed, 98-0 Senate: not pulled to Senate floor for a vote
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program (Advanced Degree Health Professions) PASSED E2SHB 2143 adds advanced degrees (graduate and professional degrees – service obligation required) in health professions to the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship program, a public-private partnership to fund scholarships in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. House: passed, 94-3 Senate: passed, 48-1
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Expansion (Professional-Technical Certificates and Degrees) PASSED HB 1452 expands the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship program to students pursuing professional-technical certificates and degrees. It also allows students who are ineligible for federal student aid to file a state financial aid application to meet scholarship renewal requirements. House: passed, 98-0 Senate: passed, 48-1
NURSING
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
PASSED
SHB 2101 requires the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy to develop best practices that local communities can use to create more access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and to develop strategies to make Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training available without requiring nurses to travel unreasonable distances or incur unreasonable expenses. Thank you to WSNA member Martha Phillips, BSN, RN, SANE, for testifying in support of SHB 2101. House: passed, 98-0 Senate: passed, 48-0
Hospital Privileges for ARNPs and PAs
DEAD
SHB 2264 was championed by ARNPs United with support from WSNA. It requires health care facilities to collect information from physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) before granting or renewing clinical privileges. It allows a hospital or facility to rely on the decision of a distant site hospital to grant or renew privileges when granting or renewing privileges for a PA or ARNP providing telemedicine. House: passed, 97-0 Senate: died in Senate Rules Committee
TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine Collaborative
PASSED
SB 6163 extends the duration of the Collaborative for the Advancement of Telemedicine to Dec. 31, 2021. The Collaborative is required to submit its final policy report to the legislature on Dec. 1, 2021. House: passed, 98-0 Senate: passed, 48-0
Telemedicine Payment Parity
PASSED
SSB 6399 directs the Collaborative for the Advancement of Telemedicine (Collaborative) to review the concept of telemedicine payment parity and develop recommendations on reimbursing for telemedicine at the same rate as if a provider provided services in person for treatment of diabetes mellitus, stroke, mental health conditions, opioid dependence and chronic pain and to review methodologies for reimbursement of telemedicine services. The Collaborative must also design a training program to teach health care professionals about telemedicine and proper billing. Recommendations must be reported to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2018. House: passed, 98-0 Senate: passed, 47-0
wsna.org The Washington Nurse
S P R I N G 2018
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