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SB 5271 - DOH facilities/enforcement ¶

Section 1 ¶

"Birthing center" or "childbirth center" means any health facility, not part of a hospital or in a hospital, that provides facilities and staff to support a birth service to low-risk maternity clients: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this chapter shall not apply to any hospital approved by the American College of Surgeons, American Osteopathic Association, or its successor.
"Department" means the state department of health.
"Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the birthing center's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death.
"Low-risk" means normal, uncomplicated prenatal course as determined by adequate prenatal care and prospects for a normal uncomplicated birth as defined by reasonable and generally accepted criteria of maternal and fetal health.
"Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof.

Section 2 ¶

In any case in which the department finds that a birthing center has failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the standards or rules adopted under this chapter, or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules regulating birthing centers, the department may take one or more of the actions identified in this section, except as otherwise limited in this section.

a. When the department determines the birthing center has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the birthing center failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department, the department may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, training, or hiring a department-approved consultant if the birthing center cannot demonstrate to the department that it has access to sufficient internal expertise. If the department determines that the violations constitute immediate jeopardy, the conditions may be imposed immediately in accordance with subsection (2) of this section.

b. In accordance with the authority the department has under RCW 43.70.095, the department may assess a civil fine of up to $3,000 per violation on a birthing center licensed under this chapter when the department determines the birthing center has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the birthing center failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department.

    i. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the department to offset costs associated with licensing and enforcement of birthing centers.

    ii. The department shall adopt in rules under this chapter specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance and at an adequate level to be a deterrent to future noncompliance.

    iii. If a birthing center is aggrieved by the department's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under RCW 43.70.095.

c. The department may suspend a specific category or categories of services or care or birthing rooms within the birthing center as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.

    i. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide a birthing center written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The birthing center shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.

    ii. When the department imposes a limited stop service, the birthing center may not provide the services in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service to any new or existing patients, unless otherwise allowed by the department, until the limited stop service is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the birthing center if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.

    iv. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the birthing center has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The birthing center establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

d. The department may suspend new admissions to the birthing center by imposing a stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy and is not confined to a specific category or categories of patients or a specific area of the birthing center.

    i. Prior to imposing a stop placement, the department shall provide a birthing center written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The birthing center shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the stop placement.

    ii. When the department imposes a stop placement, the birthing center may not admit any new patients until the stop placement is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the birthing center if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected.

    iv. The stop placement shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the birthing center has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The birthing center establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

e. The department may deny an application for a license or suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license.

Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of actions taken by the department under subsection (1) of this section and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the birthing center's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, stop placement, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
1. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or imposition of conditions.
3. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
4. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension.
1. When the department imposes an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 3 ¶

The department may give written notice to cease and desist to any person whom the department has reason to believe is engaged in the unlicensed operation of a birthing center.
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirement to cease and desist unlicensed operation is effective 20 days after the person receives the notice.
2. The department may make the date the action is effective sooner than 20 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the department does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice to cease and desist.
The person to whom the notice to cease and desist is issued may request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the notice. The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the notice, include a copy of the notice, and be served on and received by the department within 20 days from the date the person receives the notice to cease and desist.
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1. If the department gives a person 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the person requests an adjudicative proceeding before its effective date, the department shall not implement the notice until the final order has been entered. The presiding or reviewing officer may permit the department to implement part or all of the notice while the proceedings are pending if the respondent causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the department gives a licensee less than 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the respondent timely files a request for an adjudicative proceeding, the department may implement the cease and desist on the effective date stated in the notice. The presiding or reviewing officer may order the department to stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The department may assess a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day a person operates a birthing center without a valid license.
1. The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine.
2. Except as otherwise provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the civil fine is due and payable 20 days after receipt.
3. The person against whom the department assesses a civil fine has the right to request an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the fine, include a copy of the notice, be served on and received by the department within 20 days of the person receiving the notice of civil fine, and be served in a manner which shows proof of receipt.
4. If the person files a timely and sufficient request for adjudicative proceeding, the department shall not implement the fine until the final order has been served.
Neither the issuance of a cease and desist order nor payment of a civil fine shall relieve the person so operating a birthing center without a license from criminal prosecution, but the remedy of a cease and desist order or civil fine shall be in addition to any criminal liability. A final notice to cease and desist is conclusive proof of unlicensed operation and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the final notice to cease and desist or civil fine may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 4 ¶

Notwithstanding the existence or use of any other remedy, the department may in the manner provided by law, upon the advice of the attorney general who shall represent the department in all proceedings, maintain an action in the name of the state for an injunction or other process against any person to restrain or prevent the advertisement, operation , maintenance, management, or opening of a birthing center not licensed under this chapter.
The injunction shall not relieve the person operating a birth center without a license from criminal prosecution, or the imposition of a civil fine under section 3 of this act, but the remedy by injunction shall be in addition to any criminal liability or civil fine. A person that violates an injunction issued under this chapter shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the court, of not more than $25,000, which shall be deposited in the department's local fee account. For the purpose of this section, the superior court issuing any injunction shall retain jurisdiction and the cause shall be continued, and in such cases the attorney general acting in the name of the state may petition for the recovery of civil penalties. All fines, forfeitures, and penalties collected or assessed by a court because of a violation of RCW 18.46.020 shall be deposited in the department's local fee account.

Section 5 ¶

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

"Department" means the department of health .
"Designated test site supervisor" means the available individual who is responsible for the technical functions of the test site and who meets the department's qualifications set out in rule by the department.
"Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the medical test site's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death.
"Person" means any individual, or any public or private organization, agent, agency, corporation, firm, association, partnership, or business.
"Proficiency testing program" means an external service approved by the department which provides samples to evaluate the accuracy, reliability and performance of the tests at each test site.
"Quality assurance" means a comprehensive set of policies, procedures, and practices to assure that a test site's results are accurate and reliable. Quality assurance means a total program of internal and external quality control, equipment preventative maintenance, calibration, recordkeeping, and proficiency testing evaluation, including a written quality assurance plan.
"Quality control" means internal written procedures and day-to-day analysis of laboratory reference materials at each test site to insure precision and accuracy of test methodology, equipment, and results.
"Test" means any examination or procedure conducted on a sample taken from the human body, including screening.
"Test site" means any facility or site, public or private, which analyzes materials derived from the human body for the purposes of health care, treatment, or screening. A test site does not mean a facility or site, including a residence, where a test approved for home use by the federal food and drug administration is used by an individual to test himself or herself without direct supervision or guidance by another and where this test is not part of a commercial transaction.

Section 6 ¶

Under this chapter, and chapter 34.05 RCW, the department may place conditions on a license which limit or cancel a test site's authority to conduct any of the tests or groups of tests of any licensee who:

Fails or refuses to comply with the requirements of this chapter , the rules or standards adopted under this chapter, or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules regulating medical test sites;
Has knowingly or with reason to know made a false statement of a material fact in the application for a license or in any data attached thereto or in any record required by the department;
Refuses to allow representatives of the department to examine any book, record, or file required by this chapter to be maintained;
Willfully prevented, interfered with, or attempted to impede in any way the work of a representative of the department;
Willfully prevented or interfered with preservation of evidence of a known violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter; or
Misrepresented, or was fraudulent in, any aspect of the licensee's business.

Section 7 ¶

The department may prohibit a specific category or categories of services within the medical test site as related to noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter or the standards or rules adopted under this chapter by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.
Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide the medical test site a written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The medical test site shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.
When the department imposes a limited stop service, the medical test site may not perform any new testing in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service until the limited stop service is terminated.
The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the medical test site if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.
The limited stop service shall be terminated when:
1. The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the medical test site has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and
2. The medical test site establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.
Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of actions taken by the department under subsection (1) of this section and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the medical test site's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
1. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or imposition of conditions.
3. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
4. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions.
1. When the department imposes an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate limited stop service, immediate suspension, or immediate imposition of conditions for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 8 ¶

The department may give written notice to cease and desist to any person whom the department has reason to believe is engaged in the unlicensed operation of a medical test site.
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirement to cease and desist unlicensed operation is effective 20 days after the person receives the notice.
2. The department may make the date the action is effective sooner than 20 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the department does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice to cease and desist.
The person to whom the notice to cease and desist is issued may request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the notice. The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the notice, include a copy of the notice, and be served on and received by the department within 20 days from the date the person receives the notice to cease and desist.
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1. If the department gives a person 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the person requests an adjudicative proceeding before its effective date, the department shall not implement the notice until the final order has been entered. The presiding or reviewing officer may permit the department to implement part or all of the notice while the proceedings are pending if the respondent causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the department gives a licensee less than 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the respondent timely files a request for an adjudicative proceeding, the department may implement the cease and desist on the effective date stated in the notice. The presiding or reviewing officer may order the department to stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The department may assess a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day a person operates a medical test site without a valid license.
1. The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine.
2. Except as otherwise provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the civil fine is due and payable 20 days after receipt.
3. The person against whom the department assesses a civil fine has the right to request an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the fine, include a copy of the notice, be served on and received by the department within 20 days of the person receiving the notice of civil fine, and be served in a manner which shows proof of receipt.
4. If the person files a timely and sufficient request for adjudicative proceeding, the department shall not implement the fine until the final order has been served.
Neither the issuance of a cease and desist order nor payment of a civil fine shall relieve the person so operating a medical test site without a license from criminal prosecution, but the remedy of a cease and desist order or civil fine shall be in addition to any criminal liability. A final notice to cease and desist is conclusive proof of unlicensed operation and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the final notice to cease and desist or civil fine may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 9 ¶

Notwithstanding the existence or use of any other remedy, the department may, in the manner provided by law and upon the advice of the attorney general, who shall represent the department in the proceedings, maintain an action in the name of the state for an injunction or other process against any person to restrain or prevent the advertising, operating, maintaining, managing, or opening of a test site without a license under this chapter. It is a misdemeanor to own, operate, or maintain a test site without a license.
The injunction shall not relieve the person operating a medical test site without a license from criminal prosecution, or the imposition of a civil fine under section 8 of this act, but the remedy by injunction shall be in addition to any criminal liability or civil fine. A person that violates an injunction issued under this chapter shall pay a civil penalty, as determined by the court, of not more than $25,000, which shall be deposited in the department's local fee account. For the purpose of this section, the superior court issuing any injunction shall retain jurisdiction and the cause shall be continued, and in such cases the attorney general acting in the name of the state may petition for the recovery of civil penalties. All fines, forfeitures, and penalties collected or assessed by a court because of a violation of RCW 70.42.020 shall be deposited in the department's local fee account.

Section 10 ¶

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

"Administrator" means an individual responsible for managing the operation of an agency.
"Department" means the department of health.
"Director of clinical services" means an individual responsible for nursing, therapy, nutritional, social, and related services that support the plan of care provided by in-home health and hospice agencies.
"Family" means individuals who are important to, and designated by, the patient or client and who need not be relatives.
"Home care agency" means a person administering or providing home care services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence. A home care agency that provides delegated tasks of nursing under RCW 18.79.260(3)(e) is not considered a home health agency for the purposes of this chapter.
"Home care services" means nonmedical services and assistance provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals that enable them to remain in their residences. Home care services include, but are not limited to: Personal care such as assistance with dressing, feeding, and personal hygiene to facilitate self-care; homemaker assistance with household tasks, such as housekeeping, shopping, meal planning and preparation, and transportation; respite care assistance and support provided to the family; or other nonmedical services or delegated tasks of nursing under RCW 18.79.260(3)(e).
"Home health agency" means a person administering or providing two or more home health services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence. A person administering or providing nursing services only may elect to be designated a home health agency for purposes of licensure.
"Home health services" means services provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals. These services include but are not limited to nursing services, home health aide services, physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, respiratory therapy services, nutritional services, medical social services, and home medical supplies or equipment services.
"Home health aide services" means services provided by a home health agency or a hospice agency under the supervision of a registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist who is employed by or under contract to a home health or hospice agency. Such care includes ambulation and exercise, assistance with self-administered medications, reporting changes in patients' conditions and needs, completing appropriate records, and personal care or homemaker services.
"Home medical supplies" or "equipment services" means diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring equipment and supplies provided for the direct care of individuals within a plan of care.
"Hospice agency" means a person administering or providing hospice services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence under the direction of an interdisciplinary team composed of at least a nurse, social worker, physician, spiritual counselor, and a volunteer.
"Hospice care center" means a homelike, noninstitutional facility where hospice services are provided, and that meets the requirements for operation under RCW 70.127.280.
"Hospice services" means symptom and pain management provided to a terminally ill individual, and emotional, spiritual, and bereavement support for the individual and family in a place of temporary or permanent residence, and may include the provision of home health and home care services for the terminally ill individual.
"Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the in-home services agency's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death.
"In-home services agency" means a person licensed to administer or provide home health, home care, hospice services, or hospice care center services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in a place of temporary or permanent residence.
"Person" means any individual, business, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, public or private agency or organization, or the legal successor thereof that employs or contracts with two or more individuals.
"Plan of care" means a written document based on assessment of individual needs that identifies services to meet these needs.
"Quality improvement" means reviewing and evaluating appropriateness and effectiveness of services provided under this chapter.
"Service area" means the geographic area in which the department has given prior approval to a licensee to provide home health, hospice, or home care services.
"Social worker" means a person with a degree from a social work educational program accredited and approved as provided in RCW 18.320.010 or who meets qualifications provided in 42 C.F.R. Sec. 418.114 as it existed on January 1, 2012.
"Survey" means an inspection conducted by the department to evaluate and monitor an agency's compliance with this chapter.

Section 11 ¶

The department is authorized to take any of the actions identified in section 12 of this act against an in-home services agency's license in any case in which it finds that the licensee:

Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter , standards or rules adopted under this chapter, or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules regulating the facility or agency;
Was the holder of a license issued pursuant to this chapter that was revoked for cause and never reissued by the department, or that was suspended for cause and the terms of the suspension have not been fulfilled and the licensee has continued to operate;
Has knowingly or with reason to know made a misrepresentation of, false statement of, or failed to disclose, a material fact to the department in an application for the license or any data attached thereto or in any record required by this chapter or matter under investigation by the department, or during a survey, or concerning information requested by the department;
Refused to allow representatives of the department to inspect any book, record, or file required by this chapter to be maintained or any portion of the licensee's premises;
Willfully prevented, interfered with, or attempted to impede in any way the work of any representative of the department and the lawful enforcement of any provision of this chapter. This includes but is not limited to: Willful misrepresentation of facts during a survey, investigation, or administrative proceeding or any other legal action; or use of threats or harassment against any patient, client, or witness, or use of financial inducements to any patient, client, or witness to prevent or attempt to prevent him or her from providing evidence during a survey or investigation, in an administrative proceeding, or any other legal action involving the department;
Willfully prevented or interfered with any representative of the department in the preservation of evidence of any violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;
Failed to pay any civil monetary penalty assessed by the department pursuant to this chapter within 10 days after the assessment becomes final;
Used advertising that is false, fraudulent, or misleading;
Has repeated incidents of personnel performing services beyond their authorized scope of practice;
Misrepresented or was fraudulent in any aspect of the conduct of the licensee's business;
Within the last five years, has been found in a civil or criminal proceeding to have committed any act that reasonably relates to the person's fitness to establish, maintain, or administer an agency or to provide care in the home of another;
Was the holder of a license to provide care or treatment to ill individuals, vulnerable individuals, or individuals with disabilities that was denied, restricted, not renewed, surrendered, suspended, or revoked by a competent authority in any state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction. A certified copy of the order, stipulation, or agreement is conclusive evidence of the denial, restriction, nonrenewal, surrender, suspension, or revocation;

13.

Failed to comply with an order issued by the secretary or designee;

Aided or abetted the unlicensed operation of an in-home services agency;
Operated beyond the scope of the in-home services agency license;
Failed to adequately supervise staff to the extent that the health or safety of a patient or client was at risk;
Compromised the health or safety of a patient or client, including, but not limited to, the individual performing services beyond their authorized scope of practice;
Continued to operate after license revocation, suspension, or expiration, or operating outside the parameters of a modified, conditioned, or restricted license;
Failed or refused to comply with chapter 70.02 RCW;
Abused, neglected, abandoned, or financially exploited a patient or client as these terms are defined in RCW 74.34.020;
Misappropriated the property of an individual;
Is unqualified or unable to operate or direct the operation of the agency according to this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter;
Obtained or attempted to obtain a license by fraudulent means or misrepresentation; or
Failed to report abuse or neglect of a patient or client in violation of chapter 74.34 RCW.

Section 12 ¶

When the department determines the in-home services agency has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the in-home services agency failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department, the department may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, training, or hiring a department-approved consultant if the in-home services agency cannot demonstrate to the department that it has access to sufficient internal expertise. If the department determines that the violations constitute immediate jeopardy, the conditions may be imposed immediately in accordance with subsection (5) of this section.
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1. In accordance with the authority the department has under RCW 43.70.095, the department may assess a civil fine of up to $3,000 per violation on an in-home services agency licensed under this chapter when the department determines the in-home services agency has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the in-home services agency failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department.
2. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the department to offset costs associated with licensing and enforcement of in-home services agencies.
3. The department shall adopt in rules under this chapter specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance and at an adequate level to be a deterrent to future noncompliance.
4. If a licensee is aggrieved by the department's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under RCW 43.70.095.
The department may suspend a specific category or categories of services or care that the in-home services agency provides as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.
1. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide an in-home services agency written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The in-home services agency shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.
2. When the department imposes a limited stop service, the in-home services agency may not provide the services in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service to any new or existing individuals until the limited stop service is terminated.
3. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the in-home services agency if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.
4. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:
  1. The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the in-home services agency has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and
  2. The in-home services agency establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.
The department may suspend new admissions to an in-home services agency that qualifies as a hospice care center by imposing a stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy and is not confined to a specific category or categories of services or care that the hospice care center provides.
1. Prior to imposing a stop placement, the department shall provide an in-home services agency that qualifies as a hospice care center written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The hospice care center shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the stop placement.
2. When the department imposes a stop placement, the hospice care center may not admit any new patients until the stop placement is terminated.
3. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the hospice care center if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected.
4. The stop placement shall be terminated when:
  1. The department verifies the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the hospice care center has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and
  2. The hospice care center establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.
The department may deny an application for a license or suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license.

Section 13 ¶

Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of the imposition of conditions on a license, a limited stop service, stop placement, or the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the licensee's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, stop placement, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
1. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is immediate jeopardy.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or imposition of conditions.
3. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
4. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension.
1. When the department imposes an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 14 ¶

The department may give written notice to cease and desist to any person whom the department has reason to believe is engaged in the unlicensed operation of an in-home services agency.
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirement to cease and desist unlicensed operation is effective 20 days after the person receives the notice.
2. The department may make the date the action is effective sooner than 20 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the department does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice to cease and desist.
The person to whom the notice to cease and desist is issued may request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the notice. The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the notice, include a copy of the notice, and be served on and received by the department within 20 days from the date the person receives the notice to cease and desist.
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1. If the department gives a person 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the person requests an adjudicative proceeding before its effective date, the department shall not implement the notice until the final order has been entered. The presiding or reviewing officer may permit the department to implement part or all of the notice while the proceedings are pending if the respondent causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the department gives a licensee less than 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the respondent timely files a request for an adjudicative proceeding, the department may implement the cease and desist on the effective date stated in the notice. The presiding or reviewing officer may order the department to stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The department may assess a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day a person operates an in-home services agency without a valid license.
1. The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine.
2. Except as otherwise provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the civil fine is due and payable 20 days after receipt.
3. The person against whom the department assesses a civil fine has the right to request an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the fine, include a copy of the notice, be served on and received by the department within 20 days of the person receiving the notice of civil fine, and be served in a manner which shows proof of receipt.
4. If the person files a timely and sufficient request for adjudicative proceeding, the department shall not implement the fine until the final order has been served.
Neither the issuance of a cease and desist order nor payment of a civil fine shall relieve the person so operating an in-home services agency without a license from criminal prosecution, but the remedy of a cease and desist order or civil fine shall be in addition to any criminal liability. A final notice to cease and desist is conclusive proof of unlicensed operation and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the final notice to cease and desist or civil fine may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 15 ¶

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Ambulatory surgical facility" means any distinct entity that operates for the primary purpose of providing specialty or multispecialty outpatient surgical services in which patients are admitted to and discharged from the facility within 24 hours and do not require inpatient hospitalization, whether or not the facility is certified under Title XVIII of the federal social security act. An ambulatory surgical facility includes one or more surgical suites that are adjacent to and within the same building as, but not in, the office of a practitioner in an individual or group practice, if the primary purpose of the one or more surgical suites is to provide specialty or multispecialty outpatient surgical services, irrespective of the type of anesthesia administered in the one or more surgical suites. An ambulatory surgical facility that is adjacent to and within the same building as the office of a practitioner in an individual or group practice may include a surgical suite that shares a reception area, restroom, waiting room, or wall with the office of the practitioner in an individual or group practice.
"Department" means the department of health.
"General anesthesia" means a state of unconsciousness intentionally produced by anesthetic agents, with absence of pain sensation over the entire body, in which the patient is without protective reflexes and is unable to maintain an airway.
"Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which the ambulatory surgical facility's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of patients in its care at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death.
"Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof.
"Practitioner" means any physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, or a podiatric physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW.
"Secretary" means the secretary of health.
"Surgical services" means invasive medical procedures that:
1. Utilize a knife, laser, cautery, cryogenics, or chemicals; and
2. Remove, correct, or facilitate the diagnosis or cure of a disease, process, or injury through that branch of medicine that treats diseases, injuries, and deformities by manual or operative methods by a practitioner.

Section 16 ¶

The department is authorized to take any of the actions identified in this section against an ambulatory surgical facility's license or provisional license in any case in which it finds that there has been a failure or refusal to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the standards or rules adopted under this chapter.

a. When the department determines the ambulatory surgical facility has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the ambulatory surgical facility failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department, the department may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, training, or hiring a department-approved consultant if the ambulatory surgical facility cannot demonstrate to the department that it has access to sufficient internal expertise.

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    i. In accordance with the authority the department has under RCW 43.70.095, the department may assess a civil fine of up to $7,500 per violation on an ambulatory surgical facility licensed under this chapter when the department determines the ambulatory surgical facility has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the ambulatory surgical facility failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department.

    ii. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the department to offset costs associated with licensing and enforcement of ambulatory surgical facilities.

    iii. The department shall adopt in rules under this chapter specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance and at an adequate level to be a deterrent to future noncompliance.

    iv. If a licensee is aggrieved by the department's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under RCW 43.70.095.

c. The department may suspend a specific category or categories of services or care or operating rooms or recovery rooms within the ambulatory surgical facility as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.

    i. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide an ambulatory surgical facility written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The ambulatory surgical facility shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.

    ii. When the department imposes a limited stop service, the ambulatory surgical facility may not provide the services in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service to any new or existing individuals, unless otherwise allowed by the department, until the limited stop service is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the ambulatory surgical facility if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.

    iv. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the ambulatory surgical facility has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The ambulatory surgical facility establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

d. The department may suspend new admissions to the ambulatory surgical facility by imposing a stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy and is not confined to a specific category or categories of patients or a specific area of the ambulatory surgical facility.

    i. Prior to imposing a stop placement, the department shall provide an ambulatory surgical facility written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The ambulatory surgical facility shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the stop placement.

    ii. When the department imposes a stop placement, the ambulatory surgical facility may not admit any new patients until the stop placement is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the ambulatory surgical facility if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected.

    iv. The stop placement shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the ambulatory surgical facility has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The ambulatory surgical facility establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

e. The department may deny an application for a license or suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license.

The secretary may deny, suspend, or revoke the license of any ambulatory surgical facility in any case in which he or she finds the applicant or registered entity knowingly made a false statement of material fact in the application for the license or any supporting data in any record required by this chapter or matter under investigation by the department.
Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of actions taken by the department under this section and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the licensee's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
1. When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, stop placement, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
2. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
3. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or imposition of conditions.
4. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
5. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
6. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension.
1. When the department imposes an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate.
2. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
3. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
5. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
6. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 17 ¶

The department may give written notice to cease and desist to any person whom the department has reason to believe is engaged in the unlicensed operation of an ambulatory surgical facility.
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirement to cease and desist unlicensed operation is effective 20 days after the person receives the notice.
2. The department may make the date the action is effective sooner than 20 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the department does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice to cease and desist.
The person to whom the notice to cease and desist is issued may request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the notice. The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the notice, include a copy of the notice, and be served on and received by the department within 20 days from the date the person receives the notice to cease and desist.
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1. If the department gives a person 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the person requests an adjudicative proceeding before its effective date, the department shall not implement the notice until the final order has been entered. The presiding or reviewing officer may permit the department to implement part or all of the notice while the proceedings are pending if the respondent causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the department gives a licensee less than 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the respondent timely files a request for an adjudicative proceeding, the department may implement the cease and desist on the effective date stated in the notice. The presiding or reviewing officer may order the department to stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The department may assess a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day a person operates an ambulatory surgical facility without a valid license.
1. The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine.
2. Except as otherwise provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the civil fine is due and payable 20 days after receipt.
3. The person against whom the department assesses a civil fine has the right to request an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the fine, include a copy of the notice, be served on and received by the department within 20 days of the person receiving the notice of civil fine, and be served in a manner which shows proof of receipt.
4. If the person files a timely and sufficient request for adjudicative proceeding, the department shall not implement the fine until the final order has been served.
Neither the issuance of a cease and desist order nor payment of a civil fine shall relieve the person so operating an ambulatory surgical facility without a license from criminal prosecution, but the remedy of a cease and desist order or civil fine shall be in addition to any criminal liability. A final notice to cease and desist is conclusive proof of unlicensed operation and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the final notice to cease and desist or civil fine may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 18 ¶

In any case in which the department finds that a private establishment has failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the standards or rules adopted under this chapter, or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules, the department may take one or more of the actions identified in this section, except as otherwise limited in this section.
1. When the department determines the private establishment has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the private establishment failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department, the department may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, training, or hiring a department-approved consultant if the private establishment cannot demonstrate to the department that it has access to sufficient internal expertise.
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  1. In accordance with the authority the department has under RCW 43.70.095, the department may assess a civil fine of up to $10,000 per violation, not to exceed a total fine of $1,000,000, on a private establishment licensed under this chapter when the department determines the private establishment has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the private establishment failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department.
  2. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the department to provide training or technical assistance to private establishments or to offset costs associated with licensing private establishments.
  3. The department shall adopt in rules under this chapter specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance.
  4. If a licensee is aggrieved by the department's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under RCW 43.70.095.
c.

The department may suspend new admissions of a specific category or categories of patients as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.

    i. Prior to imposing a limited stop placement, the department shall provide a private establishment written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the private establishment shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop placement.

    ii. When the department imposes a limited stop placement, the private establishment may not accept any new admissions in the category or categories subject to the limited stop placement until the limited stop placement order is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the private establishment if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop placement has been corrected.

    iv. The limited stop placement shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the private establishment has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The private establishment establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

d. The department may suspend all new admissions to the private establishment by imposing a stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy and is not confined to a specific category or categories of patients or a specific area of the private establishment.

    i. Prior to imposing a stop placement, the department shall provide a private establishment written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the private establishment shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the stop placement.

    ii. When the department imposes a stop placement, the private establishment may not accept any new admissions until the stop placement order is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the private establishment if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected.

    iv. The stop placement order shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the private establishment has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The private establishment establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

e. The department may suspend a specific category or categories of services within the private establishment as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.

    i. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide a private establishment written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The private establishment shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.

    ii. When the department imposes a limited stop service, the private establishment may not provide the services in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service to any new or existing individuals, unless otherwise allowed by the department, until the limited stop service is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the private establishment if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.

    iv. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the private establishment has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The private establishment establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

f. The department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license.

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1. Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of the imposition of conditions on a license, a limited stop placement, stop placement, limited stop service, or the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, including a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the licensee's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
2. When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop placement, stop placement, limited stop service, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
  1. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
  2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and must provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department must provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
  3. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
  4. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
3. If the secretary sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension.
1. When the department imposes an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 19 ¶

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

Section 20 ¶

The department may at any time examine a licensed private establishment to determine whether it has failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter, the standards or rules adopted under this chapter, or other applicable state or federal statutes or rules regulating private establishments.

Section 21 ¶

The department may give written notice to cease and desist to any person whom the department has reason to believe is engaged in the unlicensed operation of a private establishment.
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1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the requirement to cease and desist unlicensed operation is effective 20 days after the person receives the notice.
2. The department may make the date the action is effective sooner than 20 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the department does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice to cease and desist.
The person to whom the notice to cease and desist is issued may request an adjudicative proceeding to contest the notice. The adjudicative proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the notice, include a copy of the notice, and be served on and received by the department within 20 days from the date the person receives the notice to cease and desist.
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1. If the department gives a person 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the person requests an adjudicative proceeding before its effective date, the department shall not implement the notice until the final order has been entered. The presiding or reviewing officer may permit the department to implement part or all of the notice while the proceedings are pending if the respondent causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the department gives a licensee less than 20 days' notice to cease and desist and the respondent timely files a request for an adjudicative proceeding, the department may implement the cease and desist on the effective date stated in the notice. The presiding or reviewing officer may order the department to stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The department may assess a civil fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day a person operates a private establishment without a valid license.
1. The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine.
2. Except as otherwise provided in (c) and (d) of this subsection, the civil fine is due and payable 20 days after receipt.
3. The person against whom the department assesses a civil fine has the right to request an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The request must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the fine, include a copy of the notice, be served on and received by the department within 20 days of the person receiving the notice of civil fine, and be served in a manner which shows proof of receipt.
4. If the person files a timely and sufficient request for adjudicative proceeding, the department shall not implement the fine until the final order has been served.
Neither the issuance of a cease and desist order nor payment of a civil fine shall relieve the person so operating a private establishment without a license from criminal prosecution, but the remedy of a cease and desist order or civil fine shall be in addition to any criminal liability. A final notice to cease and desist is conclusive proof of unlicensed operation and may be enforced under RCW 7.21.060. This method of enforcement of the final notice to cease and desist or civil fine may be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, any provisions for enforcement of agency orders set out in chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 22 ¶

When used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings indicated.

"Board of health" means the state board of health created pursuant to chapter 43.20 RCW.
"Capital expenditure" is an expenditure, including a force account expenditure (i.e., an expenditure for a construction project undertaken by a nursing home facility as its own contractor) which, under generally accepted accounting principles, is not properly chargeable as an expense of operation or maintenance. Where a person makes an acquisition under lease or comparable arrangement, or through donation, which would have required review if the acquisition had been made by purchase, such expenditure shall be deemed a capital expenditure. Capital expenditures include donations of equipment or facilities to a nursing home facility which if acquired directly by such facility would be subject to certificate of need review under the provisions of this chapter and transfer of equipment or facilities for less than fair market value if a transfer of the equipment or facilities at fair market value would be subject to such review. The cost of any studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, and other activities essential to the acquisition, improvement, expansion, or replacement of any plant or equipment with respect to which such expenditure is made shall be included in determining the amount of the expenditure.
"Continuing care retirement community" means an entity which provides shelter and services under continuing care contracts with its members and which sponsors or includes a health care facility or a health service. A "continuing care contract" means a contract to provide a person, for the duration of that person's life or for a term in excess of one year, shelter along with nursing, medical, health-related, or personal care services, which is conditioned upon the transfer of property, the payment of an entrance fee to the provider of such services, or the payment of periodic charges for the care and services involved. A continuing care contract is not excluded from this definition because the contract is mutually terminable or because shelter and services are not provided at the same location.
"Department" means the department of health.
"Expenditure minimum" means, for the purposes of the certificate of need program, $1,000,000 adjusted by the department by rule to reflect changes in the United States department of commerce composite construction cost index; or a lesser amount required by federal law and established by the department by rule.
"Health care facility" means hospices, hospice care centers, hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, nursing homes, kidney disease treatment centers, ambulatory surgical facilities, and home health agencies, and includes such facilities when owned and operated by a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state and such other facilities as required by federal law and implementing regulations, but does not include any health facility or institution conducted by and for those who rely exclusively upon treatment by prayer or spiritual means in accordance with the creed or tenets of any well-recognized church or religious denomination, or any health facility or institution operated for the exclusive care of members of a convent as defined in RCW 84.36.800 or rectory, monastery, or other institution operated for the care of members of the clergy. In addition, the term does not include any nonprofit hospital: (a) Which is operated exclusively to provide health care services for children; (b) which does not charge fees for such services; and (c) if not contrary to federal law as necessary to the receipt of federal funds by the state.
"Health maintenance organization" means a public or private organization, organized under the laws of the state, which:
1. Is a qualified health maintenance organization under Title XIII, section 1310(d) of the Public Health Service Act; or
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  1. Provides or otherwise makes available to enrolled participants health care services, including at least the following basic health care services: Usual physician services, hospitalization, laboratory, X-ray, emergency, and preventive services, and out-of-area coverage; (ii) is compensated (except for copayments) for the provision of the basic health care services listed in (b)(i) to enrolled participants by a payment which is paid on a periodic basis without regard to the date the health care services are provided and which is fixed without regard to the frequency, extent, or kind of health service actually provided; and (iii) provides physicians' services primarily (A) directly through physicians who are either employees or partners of such organization, or (B) through arrangements with individual physicians or one or more groups of physicians (organized on a group practice or individual practice basis).
"Health services" means clinically related (i.e., preventive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, or palliative) services and includes alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental health services and as defined in federal law.
"Health service area" means a geographic region appropriate for effective health planning which includes a broad range of health services.
"Person" means an individual, a trust or estate, a partnership, a corporation (including associations, joint stock companies, and insurance companies), the state, or a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, including a municipal corporation or a hospital district.
"Provider" generally means a health care professional or an organization, institution, or other entity providing health care but the precise definition for this term shall be established by rule of the department, consistent with federal law.
"Public health" means the level of well-being of the general population; those actions in a community necessary to preserve, protect, and promote the health of the people for which government is responsible; and the governmental system developed to guarantee the preservation of the health of the people.
"Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.
"Tertiary health service" means a specialized service that meets complicated medical needs of people and requires sufficient patient volume to optimize provider effectiveness, quality of service, and improved outcomes of care.
"Hospital" means any health care institution which is required to qualify for a license under RCW 70.41.020(8); or as a behavioral health hospital under chapter 71.12 RCW.

Section 23 ¶

The department shall not require a certificate of need for the offering of an inpatient tertiary health service by:
1. A health maintenance organization or a combination of health maintenance organizations if (i) the organization or combination of organizations has, in the service area of the organization or the service areas of the organizations in the combination, an enrollment of at least 50,000 individuals, (ii) the facility in which the service will be provided is or will be geographically located so that the service will be reasonably accessible to such enrolled individuals, and (iii) at least 75 percent of the patients who can reasonably be expected to receive the tertiary health service will be individuals enrolled with such organization or organizations in the combination;
2. A health care facility if (i) the facility primarily provides or will provide inpatient health services, (ii) the facility is or will be controlled, directly or indirectly, by a health maintenance organization or a combination of health maintenance organizations which has, in the service area of the organization or service areas of the organizations in the combination, an enrollment of at least 50,000 individuals, (iii) the facility is or will be geographically located so that the service will be reasonably accessible to such enrolled individuals, and (iv) at least 75 percent of the patients who can reasonably be expected to receive the tertiary health service will be individuals enrolled with such organization or organizations in the combination; or
3. A health care facility (or portion thereof) if (i) the facility is or will be leased by a health maintenance organization or combination of health maintenance organizations which has, in the service area of the organization or the service areas of the organizations in the combination, an enrollment of at least 50,000 individuals and, on the date the application is submitted under subsection (2) of this section, at least 15 years remain in the term of the lease, (ii) the facility is or will be geographically located so that the service will be reasonably accessible to such enrolled individuals, and (iii) at least 75 percent of the patients who can reasonably be expected to receive the tertiary health service will be individuals enrolled with such organization;

if, with respect to such offering or obligation by a nursing home, the department has, upon application under subsection (2) of this section, granted an exemption from such requirement to the organization, combination of organizations, or facility.

A health maintenance organization, combination of health maintenance organizations, or health care facility shall not be exempt under subsection (1) of this section from obtaining a certificate of need before offering a tertiary health service unless:
1. It has submitted at least 30 days prior to the offering of services reviewable under RCW 70.38.105(4)(d) an application for such exemption; and
2. The application contains such information respecting the organization, combination, or facility and the proposed offering or obligation by a nursing home as the department may require to determine if the organization or combination meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section or the facility meets or will meet such requirements; and
3. The department approves such application. The department shall approve or disapprove an application for exemption within 30 days of receipt of a completed application. In the case of a proposed health care facility (or portion thereof) which has not begun to provide tertiary health services on the date an application is submitted under this subsection with respect to such facility (or portion), the facility (or portion) shall meet the applicable requirements of subsection (1) of this section when the facility first provides such services. The department shall approve an application submitted under this subsection if it determines that the applicable requirements of subsection (1) of this section are met.
A health care facility (or any part thereof) with respect to which an exemption was granted under subsection (1) of this section may not be sold or leased and a controlling interest in such facility or in a lease of such facility may not be acquired and a health care facility described in (1)(c) which was granted an exemption under subsection (1) of this section may not be used by any person other than the lessee described in (1)(c) unless:
1. The department issues a certificate of need approving the sale, lease, acquisition, or use; or
2. The department determines, upon application, that (i) the entity to which the facility is proposed to be sold or leased, which intends to acquire the controlling interest, or which intends to use the facility is a health maintenance organization or a combination of health maintenance organizations which meets the requirements of (1)(a)(i), and (ii) with respect to such facility, meets the requirements of (1)(a)(ii) or (iii) or the requirements of (1)(b)(i) and (ii).
In the case of a health maintenance organization, an ambulatory care facility, or a health care facility, which ambulatory or health care facility is controlled, directly or indirectly, by a health maintenance organization or a combination of health maintenance organizations, the department may under the program apply its certificate of need requirements to the offering of inpatient tertiary health services to the extent that such offering is not exempt under the provisions of this section or RCW 70.38.105(7).
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1. The department shall not require a certificate of need for the construction, development, or other establishment of a nursing home, or the addition of beds to an existing nursing home, that is owned and operated by a continuing care retirement community that:
  1. Offers services only to contractual members;
  2. Provides its members a contractually guaranteed range of services from independent living through skilled nursing, including some assistance with daily living activities;
  3. Contractually assumes responsibility for the cost of services exceeding the member's financial responsibility under the contract, so that no third party, with the exception of insurance purchased by the retirement community or its members, but including the medicaid program, is liable for costs of care even if the member depletes his or her personal resources;
  4. Has offered continuing care contracts and operated a nursing home continuously since January 1, 1988, or has obtained a certificate of need to establish a nursing home;
2. Maintains a binding agreement with the state assuring that financial liability for services to members, including nursing home services, will not fall upon the state;
1. Does not operate, and has not undertaken a project that would result in a number of nursing home beds in excess of one for every four living units operated by the continuing care retirement community, exclusive of nursing home beds; and
2. Has obtained a professional review of pricing and long-term solvency within the prior five years which was fully disclosed to members.
1. A continuing care retirement community shall not be exempt under this subsection from obtaining a certificate of need unless:
  1. It has submitted an application for exemption at least 30 days prior to commencing construction of, is submitting an application for the licensure of, or is commencing operation of a nursing home, whichever comes first; and
  2. The application documents to the department that the continuing care retirement community qualifies for exemption.
2. The sale, lease, acquisition, or use of part or all of a continuing care retirement community nursing home that qualifies for exemption under this subsection shall require prior certificate of need approval to qualify for licensure as a nursing home unless the department determines such sale, lease, acquisition, or use is by a continuing care retirement community that meets the conditions of (a) of this subsection.
A rural hospital, as defined by the department, reducing the number of licensed beds to become a rural primary care hospital under the provisions of Part A Title XVIII of the Social Security Act Section 1820, 42 U.S.C., 1395c et seq. may, within three years of the reduction of beds licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, increase the number of licensed beds to no more than the previously licensed number without being subject to the provisions of this chapter.
A rural health care facility licensed under RCW 70.175.100 formerly licensed as a hospital under chapter 70.41 RCW may, within three years of the effective date of the rural health care facility license, apply to the department for a hospital license and not be subject to the requirements of RCW 70.38.105(4)(a) as the construction, development, or other establishment of a new hospital, provided there is no increase in the number of beds previously licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW and there is no redistribution in the number of beds used for acute care or long-term care, the rural health care facility has been in continuous operation, and the rural health care facility has not been purchased or leased.
A rural hospital determined to no longer meet critical access hospital status for state law purposes as a result of participation in the Washington rural health access preservation pilot identified by the state office of rural health and formerly licensed as a hospital under chapter 70.41 RCW may apply to the department to renew its hospital license and not be subject to the requirements of RCW 70.38.105(4)(a) as the construction, development, or other establishment of a new hospital, provided there is no increase in the number of beds previously licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW. If all or part of a formerly licensed rural hospital is sold, purchased, or leased during the period the rural hospital does not meet critical access hospital status as a result of participation in the Washington rural health access preservation pilot and the new owner or lessor applies to renew the rural hospital's license, then the sale, purchase, or lease of part or all of the rural hospital is subject to the provisions of this chapter.
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1. A nursing home that voluntarily reduces the number of its licensed beds to provide assisted living, licensed assisted living facility care, adult day care, adult day health, respite care, hospice, outpatient therapy services, congregate meals, home health, or senior wellness clinic, or to reduce to one or two the number of beds per room or to otherwise enhance the quality of life for residents in the nursing home, may convert the original facility or portion of the facility back, and thereby increase the number of nursing home beds to no more than the previously licensed number of nursing home beds without obtaining a certificate of need under this chapter, provided the facility has been in continuous operation and has not been purchased or leased. Any conversion to the original licensed bed capacity, or to any portion thereof, shall comply with the same life and safety code requirements as existed at the time the nursing home voluntarily reduced its licensed beds; unless waivers from such requirements were issued, in which case the converted beds shall reflect the conditions or standards that then existed pursuant to the approved waivers.
2. To convert beds back to nursing home beds under this subsection, the nursing home must:
  1. Give notice of its intent to preserve conversion options to the department of health no later than 30 days after the effective date of the license reduction; and
  2. Give notice to the department of health and to the department of social and health services of the intent to convert beds back. If construction is required for the conversion of beds back, the notice of intent to convert beds back must be given, at a minimum, one year prior to the effective date of license modification reflecting the restored beds; otherwise, the notice must be given a minimum of 90 days prior to the effective date of license modification reflecting the restored beds. Prior to any license modification to convert beds back to nursing home beds under this section, the licensee must demonstrate that the nursing home meets the certificate of need exemption requirements of this section.

The term "construction," as used in (b)(ii) of this subsection, is limited to those projects that are expected to equal or exceed the expenditure minimum amount, as determined under this chapter.

c. Conversion of beds back under this subsection must be completed no later than four years after the effective date of the license reduction. However, for good cause shown, the four-year period for conversion may be extended by the department of health for one additional four-year period.

d. Nursing home beds that have been voluntarily reduced under this section shall be counted as available nursing home beds for the purpose of evaluating need under RCW 70.38.115(2) (a) and (k) so long as the facility retains the ability to convert them back to nursing home use under the terms of this section.

e. When a building owner has secured an interest in the nursing home beds, which are intended to be voluntarily reduced by the licensee under (a) of this subsection, the applicant shall provide the department with a written statement indicating the building owner's approval of the bed reduction.

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1. The department shall not require a certificate of need for a hospice agency if:
  1. The hospice agency is designed to serve the unique religious or cultural needs of a religious group or an ethnic minority and commits to furnishing hospice services in a manner specifically aimed at meeting the unique religious or cultural needs of the religious group or ethnic minority;
  2. The hospice agency is operated by an organization that:

(A) Operates a facility, or group of facilities, that offers a comprehensive continuum of long-term care services, including, at a minimum, a licensed, medicare-certified nursing home, assisted living, independent living, day health, and various community-based support services, designed to meet the unique social, cultural, and religious needs of a specific cultural and ethnic minority group;

(B) Has operated the facility or group of facilities for at least 10 continuous years prior to the establishment of the hospice agency;

    iii. The hospice agency commits to coordinating with existing hospice programs in its community when appropriate;

    iv. The hospice agency has a census of no more than 40 patients;

v. The hospice agency commits to obtaining and maintaining medicare certification;

vi. The hospice agency only serves patients located in the same county as the majority of the long-term care services offered by the organization that operates the agency; and

vii. The hospice agency is not sold or transferred to another agency.

b. The department shall include the patient census for an agency exempted under this subsection (10) in its calculations for future certificate of need applications.

To alleviate the need to board psychiatric patients in emergency departments and increase capacity of hospitals to serve individuals on 90-day or 180-day commitment orders, for the period of time from May 5, 2017, through June 30, 2023:
1. The department shall suspend the certificate of need requirement for a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW that changes the use of licensed beds to increase the number of beds to provide psychiatric services, including involuntary treatment services. A certificate of need exemption under this subsection (11)(a) shall be valid for two years.
2. The department may not require a certificate of need for:
  1. The addition of beds as described in RCW 70.38.260 (2) and (3); or
  2. The construction, development, or establishment of a behavioral health hospital licensed as an establishment under chapter 71.12 RCW that will have no more than 16 beds and provide treatment to adults on 90 or 180-day involuntary commitment orders, as described in RCW 70.38.260(4).
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1. An ambulatory surgical facility is exempt from all certificate of need requirements if the facility:
  1. Is an individual or group practice and, if the facility is a group practice, the privilege of using the facility is not extended to physicians outside the group practice;
  2. Operated or received approval to operate, prior to January 19, 2018; and
  3. Was exempt from certificate of need requirements prior to January 19, 2018, because the facility either:

(A) Was determined to be exempt from certificate of need requirements pursuant to a determination of reviewability issued by the department; or

(B) Was a single-specialty endoscopy center in existence prior to January 14, 2003, when the department determined that endoscopy procedures were surgeries for purposes of certificate of need.

b. The exemption under this subsection:

    i. Applies regardless of future changes of ownership, corporate structure, or affiliations of the individual or group practice as long as the use of the facility remains limited to physicians in the group practice; and

    ii. Does not apply to changes in services, specialties, or number of operating rooms.

A rural health clinic providing health services in a home health shortage area as declared by the department pursuant to 42 C.F.R. Sec. 405.2416 is not subject to certificate of need review under this chapter.

Section 24 ¶

For a grant awarded during fiscal years 2018 and 2019 by the department of commerce under this section, hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW and behavioral health hospitals licensed as establishments under chapter 71.12 RCW are not subject to certificate of need requirements for the addition of the number of new psychiatric beds indicated in the grant. The department of commerce may not make a prior approval of a certificate of need application a condition for a grant application under this section. The period during which an approved hospital or behavioral health hospital project qualifies for a certificate of need exemption under this section is two years from the date of the grant award.
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1. Until June 30, 2023, a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW is exempt from certificate of need requirements for the addition of new psychiatric beds.
2. A hospital that adds new psychiatric beds under this subsection (2) must:
  1. Notify the department of the addition of new psychiatric beds. The department shall provide the hospital with a notice of exemption within 30 days; and
  2. Commence the project within two years of the date of receipt of the notice of exemption.
3. Beds granted an exemption under RCW 70.38.111(11)(b) must remain psychiatric beds unless a certificate of need is granted to change their use or the hospital voluntarily reduces its licensed capacity.
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1. Until June 30, 2023, a behavioral health hospital licensed as an establishment under chapter 71.12 RCW is exempt from certificate of need requirements for the one-time addition of up to 30 new psychiatric beds devoted solely for 90-day and 180-day civil commitment services and for the one-time addition of up to 30 new voluntary psychiatric beds or involuntary psychiatric beds for patients on a 120 hour detention or 14-day civil commitment order, if the hospital makes a commitment to maintain a payer mix of at least 50 percent medicare and medicaid based on a calculation using patient days for a period of five consecutive years after the beds are made available for use by patients, if it demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department:
  1. That its most recent two years of publicly available fiscal year-end report data as required under RCW 70.170.100 and 43.70.050 reported to the department by the behavioral health hospital, show a payer mix of a minimum of 50 percent medicare and medicaid based on a calculation using patient days; and
  2. A commitment to maintaining the payer mix in (a) of this subsection for a period of five consecutive years after the beds are made available for use by patients.
2. A behavioral health hospital that adds new psychiatric beds under this subsection (3) must:
  1. Notify the department of the addition of new psychiatric beds. The department shall provide the behavioral health hospital with a notice of exemption within 30 days; and
  2. Commence the project within two years of the date of receipt of the notice of exemption.
3. Beds granted an exemption under RCW 70.38.111(11)(b) must remain the types of psychiatric beds indicated to the department in the original exemption application unless a certificate of need is granted to change their use or the behavioral health hospital voluntarily reduces its licensed capacity.
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1. Until June 30, 2023, an entity seeking to construct, develop, or establish a behavioral health hospital licensed as an establishment under chapter 71.12 RCW is exempt from certificate of need requirements if the proposed behavioral health hospital will have no more than 16 beds and dedicate a portion of the beds to providing treatment to adults on 90 or 180-day involuntary commitment orders. The behavioral health hospital may also provide treatment to adults on a 120 hour detention or 14-day involuntary commitment order.
2. An entity that seeks to construct, develop, or establish a behavioral health hospital under this subsection (4) must:
  1. Notify the department of the addition of construction, development, or establishment. The department shall provide the entity with a notice of exemption within 30 days; and
  2. Commence the project within two years of the date of receipt of the notice of exemption.
3. Entities granted an exemption under RCW 70.38.111(11)(b)(ii) may not exceed 16 beds unless a certificate of need is granted to increase the behavioral health hospital's capacity.
This section expires June 30, 2025.

Section 25 ¶

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

Section 26 ¶

(1) The secretary shall license or certify any agency or facility that: (a) Submits payment of the fee established under RCW 43.70.110 and 43.70.250; and (b) submits a complete application that demonstrates the ability to comply with requirements for operating and maintaining an agency or facility in statute or rule; and (c) successfully completes the prelicensure inspection requirement.

Section 27 ¶

The department shall review reports or other information alleging a failure to comply with this chapter or the standards and rules adopted under this chapter and may initiate investigations and enforcement actions based on those reports.
The department shall conduct inspections of licensed or certified behavioral health agencies, including reviews of records and documents required to be maintained under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter.
Each licensed or certified behavioral health agency shall file with the department or the authority upon request data, statistics, schedules, medical records, and other information the department or the authority reasonably requires. A licensed or certified behavioral health agency that without good cause fails to furnish any data, statistics, schedules, or information as requested, or files fraudulent returns thereof, may have its license or certification revoked or suspended.
The authority shall use the data provided in subsection (3) of this section to evaluate each program that admits children to inpatient substance use disorder treatment upon application of their parents. The evaluation shall be done at least once every 12 months. In addition, the authority shall randomly select and review the information on individual children who are admitted on application of the child's parent for the purpose of determining whether the child was appropriately placed into substance use disorder treatment based on an objective evaluation of the child's condition and the outcome of the child's treatment.
Any settlement agreement entered into between the department and licensed or certified behavioral health agencies to resolve administrative complaints, license or certification violations, license or certification suspensions, or license or certification revocations may not reduce the number of violations reported by the department unless the department concludes, based on evidence gathered by inspectors, that the licensed or certified behavioral health agency did not commit one or more of the violations.
In cases in which a licensed or certified behavioral health agency that is in violation of licensing or certification standards attempts to transfer or sell the behavioral health agency to a family member, the transfer or sale may only be made for the purpose of remedying license or certification violations and achieving full compliance with the terms of the license or certification. Transfers or sales to family members are prohibited in cases in which the purpose of the transfer or sale is to avoid liability or reset the number of license or certification violations found before the transfer or sale. If the department finds that the owner intends to transfer or sell, or has completed the transfer or sale of, ownership of the behavioral health agency to a family member solely for the purpose of resetting the number of violations found before the transfer or sale, the department may not renew the behavioral health agency's license or certification or issue a new license or certification to the behavioral health provider.
In any case in which the department finds that a licensed or certified behavioral health agency has failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the standards or rules adopted under this chapter, the department may take one or more of the actions identified in this section, except as otherwise limited in this section.
1. When the department determines the licensed or certified behavioral health agency has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the licensed or certified behavioral health agency failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department, the department may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, training, or hiring a department-approved consultant if the licensed or certified behavioral health agency cannot demonstrate to the department that it has access to sufficient internal expertise.
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  1. In accordance with the department's authority under RCW 43.70.095, the department may assess a civil fine of up to $3,000 per violation on a licensed or certified behavioral health agency when the department determines the licensed or certified behavioral health agency has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the licensed or certified behavioral health agency failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the department.
  2. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the department to provide training or technical assistance to licensed or certified behavioral health agencies and to offset costs associated with licensing, certification, or enforcement of behavioral health agencies.
  3. The department shall adopt in rules under this chapter specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance and at an adequate level to be a deterrent to future noncompliance.
  4. If a licensee is aggrieved by the department's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under RCW 43.70.095.
3. The department may suspend new intake or admission of a specific category or categories of individuals receiving behavioral health services as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.
  1. Prior to imposing a limited stop placement, the department shall provide a licensed or certified behavioral health agency written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensed or certified behavioral health agency shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop placement.
  2. When the department imposes a limited stop placement, the licensed or certified behavioral health agency may not accept any new individuals in the category or categories subject to the limited stop placement until the limited stop placement is terminated.
  3. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the licensed or certified behavioral health agency if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop placement has been corrected.
  4. The limited stop placement shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the licensed or certified behavioral health agency has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The licensed or certified behavioral health agency establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

d. The department may suspend new intake or admission of individuals receiving behavioral health services as related to the violation by imposing a stop placement. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy and is not confined to a specific category or categories of individuals.

    i. Prior to imposing a stop placement, the department shall provide a licensed or certified behavioral health agency written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The licensed or certified behavioral health agency shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the stop placement.

    ii. When the department imposes a stop placement, the licensed or certified behavioral health agency may not accept any new individuals receiving behavioral health services until the stop placement is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the licensed or certified behavioral health agency if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected.

    iv. The stop placement shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the stop placement has been corrected or the department determines that the licensed or certified behavioral health agency has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The licensed or certified behavioral health agency establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

e. The department may suspend a specific category or categories of behavioral health services as related to the violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the department finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.

    i. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the department shall provide a licensed or certified behavioral health agency written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The licensed or certified behavioral health agency shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a department-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the department as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the department may issue the limited stop service.

    ii. When the department imposes a limited stop service, the licensed or certified behavioral health agency may not provide the services in the category or categories subject to the limited stop service to any new or existing individuals, unless otherwise allowed by the department, until the limited stop service is terminated.

    iii. The department shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the licensed or certified behavioral health agency if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.

    iv. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:

(A) The department verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the department determines that the licensed or certified behavioral health agency has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The licensed or certified behavioral health agency establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

f. The department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license.

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1. Except as otherwise provided, RCW 43.70.115 governs notice of the imposition of conditions on a license, a limited stop placement, stop placement, limited stop service, or the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the adverse action, include a copy of the department's notice, be served on and received by the department within 28 days of the licensee's receipt of the adverse notice, and be served in a manner that shows proof of receipt.
2. When the department determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the department may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop placement, stop placement, limited stop service, or the suspension of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
  1. When the department makes the suspension of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
  2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
  3. If the presiding officer determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions.
  4. If the presiding officer determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
3. If the secretary sustains the immediate suspension or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.
When the department determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the department's investigation of such an alleged violation, the department may impose an immediate limited stop placement, immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension.
1. When the department imposes an immediate limited stop placement, immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate limited stop placement, immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the department has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate limited stop placement, immediate stop placement, immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the department shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the department's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the department's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the department's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the department's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 28 ¶

As used in this chapter:

"Department" means department of health.
"Hospital" means any health care institution which is required to qualify for a license under RCW 70.41.020(8); or as a behavioral health hospital under chapter 71.12 RCW.
"Secretary" means secretary of health.
"Charity care" means medically necessary hospital health care rendered to indigent persons when third-party coverage, if any, has been exhausted, to the extent that the persons are unable to pay for the care or to pay deductibles or coinsurance amounts required by a third-party payer, as determined by the department.
"Indigent persons" are those patients or their guarantors who qualify for charity care pursuant to RCW 70.170.060(5) based on the federal poverty level, adjusted for family size, and who have exhausted any third-party coverage.
"Third-party coverage" means an obligation on the part of an insurance company, health care service contractor, health maintenance organization, group health plan, government program, tribal health benefits, or health care sharing ministry as defined in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5000A to pay for the care of covered patients and services, and may include settlements, judgments, or awards actually received related to the negligent acts of others which have resulted in the medical condition for which the patient has received hospital health care service. The pendency of such settlements, judgments, or awards must not stay hospital obligations to consider an eligible patient for charity care.
"Special studies" means studies which have not been funded through the department's biennial or other legislative appropriations.

Section 29 ¶

The commission shall:

Regulate the practice of pharmacy and enforce all laws placed under its jurisdiction;
Prepare or determine the nature of, and supervise the grading of, examinations for applicants for pharmacists' licenses;
Establish the qualifications for licensure of pharmacists or pharmacy interns;
Conduct hearings for the revocation or suspension of licenses, permits, registrations, certificates, or any other authority to practice granted by the commission, which hearings may also be conducted by an administrative law judge appointed under chapter 34.12 RCW or a presiding officer designated by the commission. The commission may authorize the secretary, or their designee, to serve as the presiding officer for any disciplinary proceedings of the commission . The presiding officer shall not vote on or make any final decision in cases pertaining to standards of practice or where clinical expertise is necessary. All functions performed by the presiding officer shall be subject to chapter 34.05 RCW;
Issue subpoenas and administer oaths in connection with any hearing, or disciplinary proceeding held under this chapter or any other chapter assigned to the commission;
Assist the regularly constituted enforcement agencies of this state in enforcing all laws pertaining to drugs, controlled substances, and the practice of pharmacy, or any other laws or rules under its jurisdiction;
Promulgate rules for the dispensing, distribution, wholesaling, and manufacturing of drugs and devices and the practice of pharmacy for the protection and promotion of the public health, safety, and welfare. Violation of any such rules shall constitute grounds for denial of an application, assessment of a civil fine, imposition of a limited stop service, imposition of reasonable conditions, suspension, revocation, or modification of licenses or any other authority to practice issued by the commission;
Adopt rules establishing and governing continuing education requirements for pharmacists and other licensees applying for renewal of licenses under this chapter;
Be immune, collectively and individually, from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any disciplinary proceedings or other official acts performed as members of the commission. Such immunity shall apply to employees of the department when acting in the course of disciplinary proceedings;
Suggest strategies for preventing, reducing, and eliminating drug misuse, diversion, and abuse, including professional and public education, and treatment of persons misusing and abusing drugs;
Conduct or encourage educational programs to be conducted to prevent the misuse, diversion, and abuse of drugs for health care practitioners and licensed or certified health care facilities;
Monitor trends of drug misuse, diversion, and abuse and make periodic reports to disciplinary boards of licensed health care practitioners and education, treatment, and appropriate law enforcement agencies regarding these trends;
Enter into written agreements with all other state and federal agencies with any responsibility for controlling drug misuse, diversion, or abuse and with health maintenance organizations, health care service contractors, and health care providers to assist and promote coordination of agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with controlled substances laws and to monitor observance of these laws and cooperation between these agencies. The department of social and health services, the department of labor and industries, and any other state agency including licensure disciplinary boards, shall refer all apparent instances of over-prescribing by practitioners and all apparent instances of legend drug overuse to the department. The department shall also encourage such referral by health maintenance organizations, health service contractors, and health care providers;
Whenever the workload of the commission requires, request that the secretary appoint pro tempore members. While serving as members pro tempore persons have all the powers, duties, and immunities, and are entitled to the emoluments, including travel expenses, of the commission.

Section 30 ¶

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

"Administer" means the direct application of a drug or device, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient or research subject.
"Business licensing system" means the mechanism established by chapter 19.02 RCW by which business licenses, endorsed for individual state-issued licenses, are issued and renewed utilizing a business license application and a business license expiration date common to each renewable license endorsement.
"Chart order" means a lawful order for a drug or device entered on the chart or medical record of an inpatient or resident of an institutional facility by a practitioner or his or her designated agent.
"Closed door long-term care pharmacy" means a pharmacy that provides pharmaceutical care to a defined and exclusive group of patients who have access to the services of the pharmacy because they are treated by or have an affiliation with a long-term care facility or hospice program, and that is not a retailer of goods to the general public.
"Commission" means the pharmacy quality assurance commission.
"Compounding" means the act of combining two or more ingredients in the preparation of a prescription. Reconstitution and mixing of (a) sterile products according to federal food and drug administration-approved labeling does not constitute compounding if prepared pursuant to a prescription and administered immediately or in accordance with package labeling, and (b) nonsterile products according to federal food and drug administration-approved labeling does not constitute compounding if prepared pursuant to a prescription.
"Controlled substance" means a drug or substance, or an immediate precursor of such drug or substance, so designated under or pursuant to the provisions of chapter 69.50 RCW.
"Deliver" or "delivery" means the actual, constructive, or attempted transfer from one person to another of a drug or device, whether or not there is an agency relationship.
"Department" means the department of health.
"Device" means instruments, apparatus, and contrivances, including their components, parts, and accessories, intended (a) for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings or other animals, or (b) to affect the structure or any function of the body of human beings or other animals.
"Dispense" means the interpretation of a prescription or order for a drug, biological, or device and, pursuant to that prescription or order, the proper selection, measuring, compounding, labeling, or packaging necessary to prepare that prescription or order for delivery.
"Distribute" means the delivery of a drug or device other than by administering or dispensing.
"Drug" and "devices" do not include surgical or dental instruments or laboratory materials, gas and oxygen, therapy equipment, X-ray apparatus or therapeutic equipment, their component parts or accessories, or equipment, instruments, apparatus, or contrivances used to render such articles effective in medical, surgical, or dental treatment, or for use or consumption in or for mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or scientific applications or purposes. "Drug" also does not include any article or mixture covered by the Washington pesticide control act (chapter 15.58 RCW), as enacted or hereafter amended, nor medicated feed intended for and used exclusively as a feed for animals other than human beings.
"Drugs" means:
1. Articles recognized in the official United States pharmacopoeia or the official homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States;
2. Substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings or other animals;
3. Substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of human beings or other animals; or
4. Substances intended for use as a component of any substances specified in (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection, but not including devices or their component parts or accessories.
"Health care entity" means an organization that provides health care services in a setting that is not otherwise licensed by the state to acquire or possess legend drugs. Health care entity includes a freestanding outpatient surgery center, a residential treatment facility, and a freestanding cardiac care center. "Health care entity" does not include an individual practitioner's office or a multipractitioner clinic, regardless of ownership, unless the owner elects licensure as a health care entity. "Health care entity" also does not include an individual practitioner's office or multipractitioner clinic identified by a hospital on a pharmacy application or renewal pursuant to RCW 18.64.043.
"Hospice program" means a hospice program certified or paid by medicare under Title XVIII of the federal social security act, or a hospice program licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW.
"Institutional facility" means any organization whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to obtain health care services including, but not limited to, services in a hospital, long-term care facility, hospice program, mental health facility, drug abuse treatment center, residential habilitation center, or a local, state, or federal correction facility.
"Labeling" means the process of preparing and affixing a label to any drug or device container. The label must include all information required by current federal and state law and pharmacy rules.
"Legend drugs" means any drugs which are required by any applicable federal or state law or regulation to be dispensed on prescription only or are restricted to use by practitioners only.
"Long-term care facility" means a nursing home licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW, an assisted living facility licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, or an adult family home licensed under chapter 70.128 RCW.
"Manufacture" means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or other substance or device or the packaging or repackaging of such substance or device, or the labeling or relabeling of the commercial container of such substance or device, but does not include the activities of a practitioner who, as an incident to his or her administration or dispensing such substance or device in the course of his or her professional practice, personally prepares, compounds, packages, or labels such substance or device. "Manufacture" includes the distribution of a licensed pharmacy compounded drug product to other state licensed persons or commercial entities for subsequent resale or distribution, unless a specific product item has approval of the commission. The term does not include:
1. The activities of a licensed pharmacy that compounds a product on or in anticipation of an order of a licensed practitioner for use in the course of their professional practice to administer to patients, either personally or under their direct supervision;
2. The practice of a licensed pharmacy when repackaging commercially available medication in small, reasonable quantities for a practitioner legally authorized to prescribe the medication for office use only;
3. The distribution of a drug product that has been compounded by a licensed pharmacy to other appropriately licensed entities under common ownership or control of the facility in which the compounding takes place; or
4. The delivery of finished and appropriately labeled compounded products dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription to alternate delivery locations, other than the patient's residence, when requested by the patient, or the prescriber to administer to the patient, or to another licensed pharmacy to dispense to the patient.
"Manufacturer" means a person, corporation, or other entity engaged in the manufacture of drugs or devices.
"Nonlegend" or "nonprescription" drugs means any drugs which may be lawfully sold without a prescription.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity.
"Pharmacist" means a person duly licensed by the commission to engage in the practice of pharmacy.
"Pharmacy" means every place properly licensed by the commission where the practice of pharmacy is conducted.
"Poison" does not include any article or mixture covered by the Washington pesticide control act (chapter 15.58 RCW), as enacted or hereafter amended.
"Practice of pharmacy" includes the practice of and responsibility for: Interpreting prescription orders; the compounding, dispensing, labeling, administering, and distributing of drugs and devices; the monitoring of drug therapy and use; the initiating or modifying of drug therapy in accordance with written guidelines or protocols previously established and approved for his or her practice by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs; the participating in drug utilization reviews and drug product selection; the proper and safe storing and distributing of drugs and devices and maintenance of proper records thereof; the providing of information on legend drugs which may include, but is not limited to, the advising of therapeutic values, hazards, and the uses of drugs and devices.
"Practitioner" means a physician, dentist, veterinarian, nurse, or other person duly authorized by law or rule in the state of Washington to prescribe drugs.
"Prescription" means an order for drugs or devices issued by a practitioner duly authorized by law or rule in the state of Washington to prescribe drugs or devices in the course of his or her professional practice for a legitimate medical purpose.
"Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.
"Shared pharmacy services" means a system that allows a participating pharmacist or pharmacy pursuant to a request from another participating pharmacist or pharmacy to process or fill a prescription or drug order, which may include but is not necessarily limited to preparing, packaging, labeling, data entry, compounding for specific patients, dispensing, performing drug utilization reviews, conducting claims adjudication, obtaining refill authorizations, reviewing therapeutic interventions, or reviewing chart orders.
"Wholesaler" means a corporation, individual, or other entity which buys drugs or devices for resale and distribution to corporations, individuals, or entities other than consumers.
"Directed plan of correction" means a plan devised by the commission that includes specificactions that must be taken to correct identified unresolved deficiencies with time frames tocomplete them.
"Immediate jeopardy" means a situation in which a licensee's noncompliance with one or more statutory or regulatory requirements has placed the health and safety of individuals or animals at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death.
"License," "licensing," and "licensure" shall be deemed equivalent to the terms "approval," "credential," "certificate," "certification," "permit," and "registration" and an "exemption" issued under chapter 69.50 RCW.
"Plan of correction" means a proposal devised by the applicant or licensee that includes specific actions that must be taken to correct identified unresolved deficiencies with the time frames to complete them.
"Statement of deficiency" means a written statement of the deficiencies prepared by the commission, or its designee, identifying one or more violations of law. The report clearly identifies the specific law or rule that has been violated along with a description of the reasons for noncompliance.

Section 31 ¶

This section governs the denial of an application for a license or the suspension, revocation, or modification of a license issued by the commission. This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.

The commission shall give written notice of the denial of an application for a license to the applicant or its agent. The form, contents, and service of the notice shall comply with this chapter and the procedural rules adopted by the commission.
The commission shall give written notice of revocation, suspension, or modification of a license to the licensee or its agent. The form, contents, and service of the notice shall comply with this chapter and the procedural rules adopted by the commission.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, revocation, suspension, or modification is effective 28 days after the licensee or the agent receives the notice.
1. The commission may make the date the action is effective later than 28 days after receipt. If the commission does so, it shall state the effective date in the written notice given to the licensee or its agent.
2. The commission may make the date the action is effective sooner than 28 days after receipt when necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. When the commission does so, it shall state the effective date and the reasons supporting the effective date in the written notice given to the licensee or its agent.
Except for licensees suspended for noncompliance with a child support order under chapter 74.20A RCW, a license applicant or licensee who is aggrieved by a commission denial, revocation, suspension, or modification has the right to an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The form, contents, and service of the application for an adjudicative hearing must comply with this chapter and with the procedural rules adopted by the commission and must be served on and received by the commission within 28 days of the applicant or licensee receiving the notice.
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1. If the commission gives a licensee 28 or more days' notice of revocation, suspension, or modification and the licensee files an appeal before its effective date, the commission shall not implement the adverse action until the final order has been entered. The commission may implement part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if the appellant causes an unreasonable delay in the proceeding, if the circumstances change so that implementation is in the public interest, or for other good cause.
2. If the commission gives a licensee less than 28 days' notice of revocation, suspension, or modification and the licensee timely files a sufficient appeal, the commission may implement the adverse action on the effective date stated in the notice. The commission may stay implementation of part or all of the adverse action while the proceedings are pending if staying implementation is in the public interest or for other good cause.
The commission may accept the surrender of the licensee's license. A licensee whose surrender has been accepted may not petition for reinstatement of its surrendered license.

Section 32 ¶

This section governs the assessment of a civil fine against a licensee issued by the commission. This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.

The commission shall give written notice to the licensee or its agent against whom it assesses a civil fine. The form, contents, and service of the notice shall comply with this chapter and the procedural rules adopted by the commission.
The civil fine is due and payable 28 days after receipt by the licensee or its agent. The commission may make the date the fine is due later than 28 days after receipt by the licensee or its agent. When the commission does so, it shall state the date the fine is due in the written notice given to the licensee against whom it assesses the fine.
The licensee against whom the commission assesses a civil fine has the right to an adjudicative proceeding. The proceeding is governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW. The form, contents, and service of the application for an adjudicative hearing must comply with this chapter and the procedural rules adopted by the commission and must be served on and received by the commission within 28 days of the licensee receiving the notice.

Section 33 ¶

This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.

The commission is authorized to take any of the actions identified in this section against licenses, registrations, permits, or other credentials or approvals issued by the commission under this chapter and chapters 18.64A, 69.38, 69.41, 69.43, 69.45, and 69.50 RCW in any case in which it finds the licensee has failed or refused to comply with any state or federal statute or administrative rule regulating the license in question including, but not limited to, Title 69 RCW, this chapter, chapter 18.64A RCW, and administrative rules adopted by the commission, except as otherwise limited in this section.
1. When the commission determines a licensee has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when the licensee failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the commission, the commission may impose reasonable conditions on a license. Conditions may include correction within a specified amount of time, a directed plan of correction, training, or hiring a commission-approved consultant if the licensee cannot demonstrate to the commission that it has access to sufficient internal expertise. If the commission determines the violations constitute immediate jeopardy, the conditions may be imposed immediately in accordance with subsection (2)(b) of this section.
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  1. In accordance with the commission's authority under section 32 of this act, the commission may assess a civil fine of up to $10,000 per violation, not to exceed a total fine of $1,000,000, on a licensee when the commission determines the licensee has previously been subject to an enforcement action for the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or has been given any previous statement of deficiency that included the same or similar type of violation of the same or similar statute or rule, or when a licensee failed to correct noncompliance with a statute or rule by a date established or agreed to by the commission.
  2. Proceeds from these fines may only be used by the commission to provide training or technical assistance to licensees and to offset costs associated with licensing and enforcement.
  3. The commission shall adopt in rules under this chapter to establish specific fine amounts in relation to the severity of the noncompliance and at an adequate level to be a deterrent to future noncompliance.
  4. If a licensee is aggrieved by the commission's action of assessing civil fines, the licensee has the right to appeal under section 32 of this act.
3. The commission may restrict the ability of a licensee to engage in a specific service related to a violation by imposing a limited stop service. This may only be done if the commission finds that noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy.
  1. Prior to imposing a limited stop service, the commission shall provide a licensee written notification upon identifying deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. The licensee shall have 24 hours from notification to develop and implement a commission-approved plan to correct the deficient practices or conditions that constitute an immediate jeopardy. If the deficient practices or conditions that constitute immediate jeopardy are not verified by the commission as having been corrected within the same 24-hour period, the commission may issue the limited stop service.
  2. When the commission imposes a limited stop service, the licensee may not provide the services subject to the limited stop service, unless otherwise allowed by the commission, until the limited stop service order is terminated.
  3. The commission shall conduct a follow-up inspection within five business days or within the time period requested by the licensee if more than five business days is needed to verify the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected.
  4. The limited stop service shall be terminated when:

(A) The commission verifies the violation necessitating the limited stop service has been corrected or the commission determines that the licensee has taken intermediate action to address the immediate jeopardy; and

(B) The licensee establishes the ability to maintain correction of the violation previously found deficient.

d. The commission may deny an application, or suspend, revoke, or modify a license.

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1. Except as otherwise provided, sections 31 and 32 of this act govern notices of actions taken by the commission under subsection (1) of this section and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding. Adjudicative proceedings and hearings under this section are governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
2. When the commission determines a licensee's noncompliance results in immediate jeopardy, the commission may make the imposition of conditions on a licensee, a limited stop service, or the suspension or modification of a license effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the licensee, pending any adjudicative proceeding.
  1. When the commission makes the suspension or modification of a license or imposition of conditions on a license effective immediately, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a hearing panel of the commission within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice. At the show cause hearing the commission has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not there is an immediate jeopardy.
  2. At the show cause hearing, the commission may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate imposition of conditions on a licensee, or the suspension or modification of a license, and the licensee's response, and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the commission shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the commission's immediate imposition of conditions on a licensee or suspension or modification of a license.
  3. If the hearing panel of the commission determines there is no immediate jeopardy, the hearing panel of the commission may overturn the immediate suspension or modification of the license or immediate imposition of conditions.
  4. If the hearing panel of the commission determines there is immediate jeopardy, the immediate suspension or modification of the license or immediate imposition of conditions shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
3. If the commission sustains the immediate suspension or modification of the license or immediate imposition of conditions, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request, unless otherwise stipulated by the parties.
The commission may take action under subsection (1) of this section against a nonresident pharmacy for failure to comply with any requirement of RCW 18.64.350 through 18.64.400, conduct that caused injury to a resident of this state, or conduct that resulted in adverse action against the nonresident pharmacy by a federal agency or the regulatory or licensing agency in the state in which the nonresident pharmacy is located.
When the commission determines an alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy, and the licensee fails to cooperate with the commission's investigation of such an alleged violation, the commission may impose an immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension or modification of a license.
1. When the commission imposes an immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension or modification of a license for failure to cooperate, a licensee is entitled to a show cause hearing before a presiding officer within 14 days of making the request. The licensee must request the show cause hearing within 28 days of receipt of the notice of an immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension or modification of a license for failure to cooperate. At the show cause hearing the commission has the burden of demonstrating that more probably than not the alleged violation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the commission's investigation.
2. At the show cause hearing, the presiding officer may consider the notice and documents supporting the immediate limited stop service, immediate imposition of conditions, or immediate suspension or modification of a license for failure to cooperate, and the licensee's response and shall provide the parties with an opportunity to provide documentary evidence and written testimony, and to be represented by counsel. Prior to the show cause hearing, the commission shall provide the licensee with all documentation that supports the commission's immediate action for failure to cooperate.
3. If the presiding officer determines the alleged violation, if true, does not constitute an immediate jeopardy or determines that the licensee cooperated with the commission's investigation, the presiding officer may overturn the immediate action for failure to cooperate.
4. If the presiding officer determines the allegation, if true, would constitute an immediate jeopardy and the licensee failed to cooperate with the commission's investigation, the immediate action for failure to cooperate shall remain in effect pending a full hearing.
5. If the presiding officer sustains the immediate action for failure to cooperate, the licensee may request an expedited full hearing on the merits of the commission's action. A full hearing must be provided within 90 days of the licensee's request.

Section 34 ¶

This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.

A licensee whose license has been suspended under this chapter may petition the commission for reinstatement after an interval as determined by the commission in the order. The commission shall hold hearings on the petition. The commission may deny the petition or may order reinstatement of the licensee's license. The commission may impose terms and conditions in the order of reinstatement.
A licensee whose license has been suspended for noncompliance with a support order or visitation order under RCW 74.20A.320 may petition for reinstatement at any time by providing the commission a release issued by the department of social and health services stating that the person is in compliance with the order. If the person has continued to meet all other requirements for reinstatement during the suspension, the commission shall automatically reissue the person's license upon receipt of the release, and payment of a reinstatement fee, if any.

Section 35 ¶

The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a license under this chapter.

Section 36 ¶

Any itinerant vendor or any peddler of any nonprescription drug or preparation for the treatment of disease or injury, shall pay a registration fee determined by the secretary on a date to be determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. The department may issue a registration to such vendor on an approved application made to the department.
Any itinerant vendor or peddler who shall vend or sell, or offer to sell to the public any such nonprescription drug or preparation without having registered to do so as provided in this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and each sale or offer to sell shall constitute a separate offense.
In event the registration fee remains unpaid on the date due, no renewal or new registration shall be issued except upon compliance with administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees determined as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. This registration shall not authorize the sale of legend drugs or controlled substances.
An itinerant vendor may purchase products containing any detectable quantity of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers only from a wholesaler licensed by the department under RCW 18.64.046 or from a manufacturer licensed by the department under RCW 18.64.045. The commission shall issue a warning to an itinerant vendor who violates this subsection, and may suspend or revoke the registration of the vendor for a subsequent violation.
An itinerant vendor who has purchased products containing any detectable quantity of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers, in a suspicious transaction as defined in RCW 69.43.035, is subject to the following requirements:
1. The itinerant vendor may not sell any quantity of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers, if the total monthly sales of these products exceed 10 percent of the vendor's total prior monthly sales of nonprescription drugs in March through October. In November through February, the vendor may not sell any quantity of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, or their salts, isomers, or salts of isomers, if the total monthly sales of these products exceed 20 percent of the vendor's total prior monthly sales of nonprescription drugs. For purposes of this section, "monthly sales" means total dollars paid by buyers.
2. The itinerant vendor shall maintain inventory records of the receipt and disposition of nonprescription drugs, utilizing existing inventory controls if an auditor or investigator can determine compliance with (a) of this subsection, and otherwise in the form and manner required by the commission. The records must be available for inspection by the commission or any law enforcement agency and must be maintained for two years. The commission may suspend or revoke the registration of an itinerant vendor who violates this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, "disposition" means the return of product to the wholesaler or distributor.

Section 37 ¶

In addition to any other grounds, the commission may take action against a license issued under this chapter and chapters 18.64A, 69.38, 69.41, 69.43, 69.45, and 69.50 RCW, except nonresident pharmacies, upon proof that:

The license was procured through fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;
Except as provided in RCW 9.97.020, the licensee has violated or has permitted any employee to violate any of the laws of this state or the United States relating to drugs, controlled substances, cosmetics, or nonprescription drugs, or has violated any of the rules and regulations of the commission or has been convicted of a felony.

Section 38 ¶

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1. The commission shall adopt, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, rules fixing the classification and qualifications and the educational and training requirements for persons who may be employed as pharmacy technicians or who may be enrolled in any pharmacy technician training program. Such rules shall provide that:
  1. Licensed pharmacists shall supervise the training of pharmacy technicians;
  2. Training programs shall assure the competence of pharmacy technicians to aid and assist pharmacy operations. Training programs shall consist of instruction and/or practical training; and
  3. Pharmacy technicians shall complete continuing education requirements established in rule by the commission.
2. Such rules may include successful completion of examinations for applicants for pharmacy technician certificates. If such examination rules are adopted, the commission shall prepare or determine the nature of, and supervise the grading of the examinations. The commission may approve an examination prepared or administered by a private testing agency or association of licensing authorities.
The commission may disapprove or revoke approval of any training program for failure to conform to commission rules. In the case of the disapproval or revocation of approval of a training program by the commission, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 31 of this act, and appeal may be taken in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 39 ¶

No pharmacy licensed in this state shall utilize the services of pharmacy ancillary personnel without approval of the commission.

Any pharmacy licensed in this state may apply to the commission for permission to use the services of pharmacy ancillary personnel. The application shall be accompanied by a fee and shall comply with administrative procedures and administrative requirements set pursuant to RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280, shall detail the manner and extent to which the pharmacy ancillary personnel would be used and supervised, and shall provide other information in such form as the secretary may require.

The commission may approve or reject such applications. In addition, the commission may modify the proposed utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel and approve the application as modified. Whenever it appears to the commission that pharmacy ancillary personnel are being utilized in a manner inconsistent with the approval granted, the commission may withdraw such approval. In the event a hearing is requested upon the rejection of an application, or upon the withdrawal of approval, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 31 of this act and appeal may be taken in accordance with the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

Section 40 ¶

Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of licenses and the discipline of persons licensed under this chapter. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a license under this chapter.

Section 41 ¶

The manufacturer is responsible for the actions and conduct of its representatives with regard to drug samples.

Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of licenses and the discipline of persons registered under this chapter.

Specific drug samples which are distributed in this state in violation of this chapter, following notification by the commission, shall be subject to seizure following the procedures set out in RCW 69.41.060.

Section 42 ¶

The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a registration under this chapter.

Section 43 ¶

In addition to any other grounds, the pharmacy quality assurance commission may take action against a permit issued under this chapter upon proof that:

The permit was procured through fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;
The permittee has violated or has permitted any employee to violate any of the laws of this state relating to drugs, controlled substances, cosmetics, or nonprescription drugs, or has violated any of the rules and regulations of the pharmacy quality assurance commission.

Section 44 ¶

Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of permits and the discipline of permits issued under this chapter. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a permit under this chapter.
The pharmacy quality assurance commission may waive action taken under chapter 18.64 RCW against a permit issued under this chapter if the permittee establishes that he or she acted in good faith to prevent violations of this chapter, and the violation occurred despite the licensee's or registrant's exercise of due diligence. In making such a determination, the pharmacy quality assurance commission may consider evidence that an employer trained employees on how to sell, transfer, or otherwise furnish substances specified in RCW 69.43.010(1) in accordance with applicable laws.

Section 45 ¶

a. Every person who manufactures, distributes, or dispenses any controlled substance within this state or who proposes to engage in the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of any controlled substance within this state, shall obtain annually a registration issued by the commission in accordance with the commission's rules.

b. A person registered by the commission under this chapter to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or conduct research with controlled substances may possess, manufacture, distribute, dispense, or conduct research with those substances to the extent authorized by the registration and in conformity with this Article.

c. The following persons need not register and may lawfully possess controlled substances under this chapter:

An agent or employee of any registered manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser of any controlled substance if the agent or employee is acting in the usual course of business or employment. This exemption shall not include any agent or employee distributing sample controlled substances to practitioners without an order;
A common or contract carrier or warehouse operator, or an employee thereof, whose possession of any controlled substance is in the usual course of business or employment;
An ultimate user or a person in possession of any controlled substance pursuant to a lawful order of a practitioner or in lawful possession of a substance included in Schedule V.
1. The commission may waive by rule the requirement for registration of certain manufacturers, distributors, or dispensers upon finding it consistent with the public health and safety. Personal practitioners licensed or registered in the state of Washington under the respective professional licensing acts shall not be required to be registered under this chapter unless the specific exemption is denied pursuant to sections 31 and 33 of this act for violation of any provisions of this chapter.
2. A separate registration is required at each principal place of business or professional practice where the applicant manufactures, distributes, or dispenses controlled substances.
3. The department, at the direction of the commission, may inspect the establishment of a registrant or applicant for registration in accordance with rules adopted by the commission.

Section 46 ¶

a. The commission shall register an applicant to manufacture , distribute, dispense, or conduct research with controlled substances included in RCW 69.50.204, 69.50.206, 69.50.208, 69.50.210, and 69.50.212 unless the commission determines that the issuance of that registration would be inconsistent with the public interest. In determining the public interest, the commission shall consider the following factors:

maintenance of effective controls against diversion of controlled substances into other than legitimate medical, scientific, research, or industrial channels;
compliance with applicable state and local law;
promotion of technical advances in the art of manufacturing controlled substances and the development of new substances;
any convictions of the applicant under any laws of another country or federal or state laws relating to any controlled substance;
past experience in the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances, and the existence in the applicant's establishment of effective controls against diversion of controlled substances into other than legitimate medical, scientific, research, or industrial channels;
furnishing by the applicant of false or fraudulent material in any application filed under this chapter;
suspension or revocation of the applicant's federal registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances as authorized by federal law; and
any other factors relevant to and consistent with the public health and safety.
1. Registration under subsection (a) of this section does not entitle a registrant to manufacture or distribute controlled substances included in Schedule I or II other than those specified in the registration.
2. Practitioners must be registered, or exempted under RCW 69.50.302(d), to dispense any controlled substances or to conduct research with controlled substances included in Schedules II through V if they are authorized to dispense or conduct research under the law of this state. The commission need not require separate registration under this Article for practitioners engaging in research with nonnarcotic substances included in Schedules II through V where the registrant is already registered under this Article in another capacity. Practitioners registered under federal law to conduct research with substances included in Schedule I may conduct research with substances included in Schedule I within this state upon furnishing the commission evidence of that federal registration.
3. A manufacturer or distributor registered under the federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 801 et seq., may submit a copy of the federal application as an application for registration as a manufacturer or distributor under this section. The commission may require a manufacturer or distributor to submit information in addition to the application for registration under the federal act.

Section 47 ¶

a. This chapter and chapter 18.64 RCW govern the denial of registrations and the discipline of registrations issued under RCW 69.50.303. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a registration under this chapter.

b. In addition to any other grounds, the commission may take action against the registration, or exemption from registration, under RCW 69.50.303 to manufacture, distribute,  dispense, or conduct research with a controlled substance  upon finding that the registrant has:

furnished false or fraudulent material information in any application filed under this chapter;
been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law relating to any controlled substance;
had the registrant's federal registration suspended or revoked and is no longer authorized by federal law to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or conduct research with controlled substances; or
committed acts that would render registration under RCW 69.50.303 inconsistent with the public interest as determined under that section.
1. The commission may limit revocation or suspension of a registration to the particular controlled substance or schedule of controlled substances, with respect to which grounds for revocation or suspension exist.
2. If the commission suspends or revokes a registration, all controlled substances owned or possessed by the registrant at the time of suspension or the effective date of the revocation order may be placed under seal. No disposition may be made of substances under seal until the time for taking an appeal has elapsed or until all appeals have been concluded unless a court, upon application, orders the sale of perishable substances and the deposit of the proceeds of the sale with the court. Upon a revocation order becoming final, all controlled substances may be forfeited to the state.
3. The commission may seize or place under seal any controlled substance owned or possessed by a registrant whose registration has expired or who has ceased to practice or do business in the manner contemplated by the registration. The controlled substance must be held for the benefit of the registrant or the registrant's successor in interest. The commission shall notify a registrant, or the registrant's successor in interest, who has any controlled substance seized or placed under seal, of the procedures to be followed to secure the return of the controlled substance and the conditions under which it will be returned. The commission may not dispose of any controlled substance seized or placed under seal under this subsection until the expiration of 180 days after the controlled substance was seized or placed under seal. The costs incurred by the commission in seizing, placing under seal, maintaining custody, and disposing of any controlled substance under this subsection may be recovered from the registrant, any proceeds obtained from the disposition of the controlled substance, or from both. Any balance remaining after the costs have been recovered from the proceeds of any disposition must be delivered to the registrant or the registrant's successor in interest.
4. The commission shall promptly notify the drug enforcement administration of all orders restricting, suspending, or revoking registration and all forfeitures of controlled substances.

Section 48 ¶

On and after September 21, 1977, a humane society and animal control agency may apply to the commission for registration pursuant to the applicable provisions of this chapter for the sole purpose of being authorized to purchase, possess, and administer sodium pentobarbital to euthanize injured, sick, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets and animals. Any agency so registered shall not permit a person to administer sodium pentobarbital unless such person has demonstrated adequate knowledge of the potential hazards and proper techniques to be used in administering this drug.

The commission may issue a limited registration to carry out the provisions of this section. Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of licenses and the discipline of registrations issued under this chapter. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a registration under this chapter.

Section 49 ¶

The department of fish and wildlife may apply to the commission for registration pursuant to the applicable provisions of this chapter to purchase, possess, and administer controlled substances for use in chemical capture programs. The department of fish and wildlife must not permit a person to administer controlled substances unless the person has demonstrated adequate knowledge of the potential hazards and proper techniques to be used in administering controlled substances.

The commission may issue a limited registration to carry out the provisions of this section. The commission may adopt rules to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this section. The commission, in consultation with the department of fish and wildlife, must by rule add or remove additional controlled substances for use in chemical capture programs. Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of licenses and the discipline of registrations issued under this chapter. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a registration under this chapter. In addition to any other grounds, the commission may suspend or revoke a registration issued under this chapter upon determination that the person administering controlled substances has not demonstrated adequate knowledge as required by this section.

Section 50 ¶

Humane societies and animal control agencies registered with the commission under chapter 69.50 RCW and authorized to euthanize animals may purchase, possess, and administer approved legend drugs for the sole purpose of sedating animals prior to euthanasia, when necessary, and for use in chemical capture programs. For the purposes of this section, "approved legend drugs" means those legend drugs designated by the commission by rule as being approved for use by such societies and agencies for animal sedating or capture and does not include any substance regulated under chapter 69.50 RCW. Any society or agency so registered shall not permit persons to administer any legend drugs unless such person has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commission adequate knowledge of the potential hazards involved in and the proper techniques to be used in administering the drugs.

The commission shall promulgate rules to regulate the purchase, possession, and administration of legend drugs by such societies and agencies and to insure strict compliance with the provisions of this section. Such rules shall require that the storage, inventory control, administration, and recordkeeping for approved legend drugs conform to the standards adopted by the commission under chapter 69.50 RCW to regulate the use of controlled substances by such societies and agencies. Chapter 18.64 RCW governs the denial of licenses and the discipline of registrations issued under chapter 69.50 RCW. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice of persons required to obtain a registration under this chapter. In addition to any other grounds, the commission may suspend or revoke a registration issued under chapter 69.50 RCW upon a determination by the commission that the person administering legend drugs has not demonstrated adequate knowledge as herein provided.

Section 51 ¶

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