RCW 70.15.040 Volunteer health practitioner registration systems—Requirements.

(1) To qualify as a volunteer health practitioner registration system, a system must:

(a) Accept applications for the registration of volunteer health practitioners before or during an emergency;

(b) Include information about the licensure and good standing of health practitioners which is accessible by authorized persons;

(c) Be capable of confirming the accuracy of information concerning whether a health practitioner is licensed and in good standing before health services or veterinary services are provided under this chapter; and

(d) Meet one of the following conditions:

(i) Be an emergency system for advance registration of volunteer health care practitioners established by a state and funded through the United States department of health and human services under section 319I of the public health services act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 247d-7b, as it existed on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section;

(ii) Be a local unit consisting of trained and equipped emergency response, public health, and medical personnel formed pursuant to section 2801 of the public health services act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300hh, as it existed on June 7, 2018, or such subsequent date as may be provided by the department by rule, consistent with the purposes of this section;

(iii) Be operated by a:

(A) Disaster relief organization;

(B) Licensing board;

(C) National or regional association of licensing boards or health practitioners;

(D) Health facility that provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient health care services, including a tertiary care, teaching hospital, or acute care facility; or

(E) Governmental entity; or

(iv) Be designated by the department as a registration system for purposes of this chapter.

(2) While an emergency declaration is in effect, the department, a person authorized to act on behalf of the department, or a host entity may confirm whether volunteer health practitioners utilized in this state are registered with a registration system that complies with subsection (1) of this section. Confirmation is limited to obtaining identities of the practitioners from the system and determining whether the system indicates that the practitioners are licensed and in good standing.

(3) Upon request of a person in this state authorized under subsection (2) of this section, or a similarly authorized person in another state, a registration system located in this state shall notify the person of the identities of volunteer health practitioners and whether the practitioners are licensed and in good standing.

(4) A host entity is not required to use the services of a volunteer health practitioner even if the practitioner is registered with a registration system that indicates that the practitioner is licensed and in good standing.

[ 2018 c 184 § 5.]