Event Details

Psychologists as Attending Providers (HB 1197 Implementation)

Public Hearing on Proposed Rules
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
2:30 p.m.

Location

In-person:
Department of Labor & Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW, Room S117
Tumwater, WA 98501

L&I Office Locations

To join on your computer or mobile app (Zoom):
https://lni-wa-gov.zoom.us/j/8895985899?omn=84949494364
Meeting ID: 889 598 5899

To join by phone (audio only):
253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 889 598 5899
Find your local number: https://lni-wa-gov.zoom.us/u/kvv2gVntf

The in-person and virtual/telephonic hearing will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will continue until all oral comments are received. A post-hearing overview will then begin and last approximately 15 minutes.

L&I encourages the submittal of written comments, due by 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025.

Purpose

The purpose of this rulemaking is to implement House Bill 1197 (Chapter 171, Laws of 2023). HB 1197 indicates who can be attending providers on Washington’s workers’ compensation claims. It includes providers who are already in the definition of “attending provider” in WAC 296-20-01002, and adds “psychologists in the case of claims solely for mental health conditions, and physician assistants”. To reflect that change L&I is proposing to add those two provider types to the definition of “attending provider” in WAC 296-20-01002 and to other applicable WACs in Title 296 WAC. L&I is also proposing amendments to Title 296 WAC for clarity and for consistency with HB 1197. One example is that the current rule on the “Attending provider report” requires the condition(s) diagnosed including the current federally adopted International Classification of Diseases, Clinically Modified (ICD-CM) codes. The proposed rule clarifies that, for a mental health condition(s), the report must also include the condition(s) diagnosed using the edition of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) designated by L&I. While this is new to the “attending provider report”, it reflects current practice. In addition, L&I is proposing to amend WAC 296-20-01501 to align language with Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2041 (Chapter 62, Laws of 2024) and the Department of Health/Washington Medical Commissions’ corresponding rule updates to Chapter 246-918 WAC. ESHB 2041 authorizes physician assistants to engage in a collaborative practice where a written agreement describes the manner in which the physician assistant is supervised by or collaborates with at least one physician.