The bill amends existing laws concerning the duties and responsibilities of certified medical assistants in Washington State, specifically updating sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to their roles. It introduces new provisions that permit certified medical assistants to enter and activate orders for health care services, such as routine immunizations and screening tests, under established protocols from supervising health care practitioners. This process requires appropriate training for the medical assistants and mandates that the orders be reviewed by a supervising practitioner within 72 hours. The bill also clarifies the delegation process, ensuring that health care practitioners assess the appropriateness of tasks based on the medical assistants' competence and the nature of the task, while specifying that the entry and activation of orders do not require clinical judgment.

Additionally, the bill updates definitions related to medical assistants and health care practitioners, including a refined definition of "delegation" and the introduction of the term "forensic phlebotomist." It also defines "order set" as a template of medical orders aimed at improving efficiency and reducing errors. The concept of "supervision" is clarified, allowing for certain procedures to be conducted without the physical presence of a health care practitioner, provided they are immediately available. Furthermore, the bill accommodates modern healthcare practices by allowing supervision through telemedicine technology for specific procedures, thereby enhancing the role of medical assistants while ensuring patient safety and compliance with regulatory standards.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.360.060
Substitute Bill: 18.360.060
Second substitute: 18.360.060
Engrossed second substitute: 18.360.060