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Inslee Announces Pending Rescission of Proclamation 20-32: Waivers Ending, and CME Requirements Being Reinstated

Article from Washington Medical Commission

On July 29, 2022, Governor Inslee announced his intent to rescind 12 Proclamations, including Proclamation 20-32, which have been in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

When these 12 healthcare-related emergency orders terminate this fall, approximately 87% of all COVID emergency proclamations will have ended.

To ensure that allopathic physicians (MDs) and physician assistants (PAs) have ample time to resume pre-COVID licensing and regulatory requirements Proclamation 20-32’s rescission will become effective on October 27, 2022.

Continuing Medical Education

Proclamation 20-32 has suspended sections of the Washington Administrative Code (chapter 246-919 WAC for MDs and chapter 246-918 WAC for PAs) continuing medical education (CME) requirements. However, with the impending rescission of Proclamation 20-32, practitioner CME requirements will resume this fall.

In conjunction with the Department of Health and other medical professions, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) will exercise enforcement discretion for MDs and PAs regarding the resumption of CME requirements. WMC will be instating a grace period for MDs and PAs to complete their CME requirements.

CME Attestation Due Dates for Allopathic Physicians (MDs)

CME Attestation Due Every Four Years
After Proclamation 20-32 (effective from March 26, 2020, through October 26, 2022) is rescinded
If your CME attestation is due on your:

Attestation will now be due on your:

Birthday 2022
(After October 27, 2022)

 Birthday 2026
Birthday 2023 
(Before October 27, 2023)		 Birthday 2027

 

CME Attestation Due Dates for Physician Assistants (PAs)

CME Attestation Due Every Two Years
After Proclamation 20-32 (effective from March 26, 2020, through October 26, 2022) is rescinded

If your CME attestation is due on your:

Attestation will now be due on your:

Birthday 2022
(After October 27, 2022)

Birthday 2024

Birthday 2023 
(Before October 27, 2023)

Birthday 2025

 

If you have questions regarding CME requirements or timelines, visit our CME webpage, or contact our Licensing Unit at (360) 236-2750 or via email.

Waivers by Profession

Each WMC licensed profession listed in Proclamation 20-32 will be the focus of future profession-specific notices with reference points to their respective WAC. To ensure you receive these emails, please subscribe here.

PAs, Limited License holders, Retired Active MD licensees, and Retired Active PA licensees should begin now to prepare for the termination of Proclamation 20-32.

Effective on October 27, 2022, the following pre-COVID requirements will all return:

  • Physician Assistants – physician supervision ratios, and delegation agreement requirements;
  • Limited License holders – will have restrictions regarding geographic locations or specific jobs as described in their appointments;
  • Retired Active MD licensees – will have restrictions that include not receiving compensation for health care services and only practicing in emergent or intermittent circumstances; and
  • Retired Active PA licensees – will have requirements to have a delegation agreement and will be prohibited from receiving compensation for health care services.

If you have questions regarding the rescission of waivers, please contact our Licensing Unit at (360) 236-2750 or email.

Website and Education

Please note that in March of 2020, the WMC posted information regarding Proclamation 20-32 and its associated waivers and suspensions. Those announcements have since been removed to avoid confusion. For reference to those documents, please contact the WMC.

The WMC will hold a webinar regarding changes from the rescission of Proclamation 20-32, including CME attestation requirements, on September 27, 2022. Please subscribe here for registration and date/time information.
 
Avoid Fraud Claiming to be State Regulators

An ongoing fraud ring has been preying on healthcare practitioners for the last year. The fraudulent behavior includes using the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) phone number, email and web URL; pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration agents; posing as a Department of Health officials in order to make providers think they are in trouble with regulators or the law and may be in danger of discipline or loss of license. 

These people are researching specific practitioners and attempting to exploit them with personal information. If they are successful, they will move forward with requests for money or information to help them carry out additional scams. Do not be a victim!

Recent Near-Victims of This Scam Were:

  • Sent papers with official looking letterhead from the WMC and U.S. Department of Justice - the letters contained forged signatures of WMC officials and fictional investigative staff
  • Called by someone claiming to be looking into their “over-prescribing of opioids”
  • Told they were under official investigation for drug related charges and that their license was immediately suspended
  • Told not to check our website because that would mean they are guilty
  • Recipients of emails that had wmc.wa.gov in the address

What is NOT a Legitimate Communication?

  • Real regulatory agencies will not ask you for money
  • Real regulatory agencies will not ask you to respond to any action in less than twenty days
  • Real regulatory agencies will not advise against speaking with your own lawyer
  • Real regulatory agencies will not ask you to confirm personal details, passwords, or social security numbers

How Can I Protect Myself from These Attacks?

  1. Never click on links or download suspicious attachments
  2. Don't fall prey to a manufactured urgency. A vital component of this fraud is the urgency of request or demand. If you are contacted by a regulatory agency, you will have a legally protected amount of time to respond
  3. Verify requests before you act. Verify with us that paperwork of any kind has been sent to you by calling: (360) 236-2750
  4. Restrict your personal information online. Scammers leverage personal information from social media accounts or other public forums

Take action! If you have verified that you are being attacked, file a complaint with the State Attorney General or file a complaint with the FBI Internet Crimes Unit and contact your local police department right away!

Please help spread the word about this scam by sharing this information with your friends, family and colleagues. 

The WMC promotes patient safety and enhances the integrity of the medical profession through licensing, rulemaking, discipline, and education. Learn more about the commission at WMC.wa.gov. Follow the WMC on Facebook and Twitter.
 
2022 Primary Care Review CME-Recordings Available
2022 Lecture Schedule

Thank you for attending the Spring 2022 Conference. We hope you enjoyed your time with us.
Did you miss the meeting? We recorded our sessions and they are worth 26 category I hours of enduring CME credit. 

2022 Spring Recording Registration

This activity is designated for 26 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. Approval is valid from 6/6/2022 to 6/1/2023. AAPA reference number: CME-206288

 

Future WAPA CME's

2023 Fall 2023: NEW VENUE! Marcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla | October 26-28, 2023
 
Collaborative Practice Laws in Washington State - What does that look like?

Collaborative Practice Laws in Washington State - What does that look like?

Read about collaborative practice

WAPA PA LAWS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2021

Update on Physician Assistants: Upcoming PA Law Changes effective July 1, 2021

During the last legislative session, SHB 2378 was passed, authorizing the following changes to Physician Assistant (PA) Laws:

  1. Moves the Delegation Agreements to the practice level; you only need to send a copy to the Washington Medical Commission (WMC). Existing practice agreements submitted before July 1, 2021 do not need to be updated to reflect the changes required in SHB 2387.

     
    Washington Medical Commission Practice Agreements

  2. The MD/DO to PA ratio is 10:1; if your practice already has a “waiver” for more, you do not need to resubmit.

  3. It removes remote site restrictions; removing duplicate regulatory structures for PAs working with MDs and DOs. It places all PAs under the Medical Commission. There will no longer be a separate licensing section for Osteopathic Physician Assistants. Chapter 18.71A RCW will replace the Osteopathic Physician Assistant license found in chapter 18.57A RCW.

WMC Newsletter on new PA Practice Updates
Senate House Bill 2378
August 26 2021 | Changes in PA practice laws during COVID 19 pandemic under Gov. Inslee