News You Can Use
June 4, 2021
 This is a publication to keep you informed of issues and events pertaining to the osteopathic profession in Washington State. We invite you to submit topics or articles of interest to your colleagues for consideration. Submissions may be emailed to executivedirector@woma.org
Reminder for VOC Registrants!
Just a reminder for those of you who participated in the Virtual Osteopathic Conference-If you have not yet completed your credits, please do so by June 30th. As of June 30th, we will again review the presentations viewed and attested to and your CME certificates will only reflect the number of credits you completed. Emails with more information will be going out as well. Please call the WOMA office if you have any questions.
Changes to Medical Assistant Supervision Law

SUPERVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANTS
VIA TELEMEDICINE
Starting April 14, 2021, providers may supervise their medical assistants during a telemedicine visit using interactive audio and video technology. The Legislature recently passed House Bill 1378, enabling this practice.
Before this law, a health care practitioner had to be present on site while a medical assistant was performing tasks associated with a telemedicine visit. Now, physical presence in the same facility is no longer required during a telemedicine visit, so long as the other requirements regarding delegation are met.
Email any questions to medical.assistants@doh.wa.gov.
Rules Workshop Announcement for
Osteopathic Physicians 

The Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (board) has officially filed a CR101 with the Office of the Code Reviser on May 11, 2021 as WSR #21-11-025 for WAC 246-853-650 Safe and effective analgesia and anesthesia administration in office-based settings.
The board is considering rule amendments in response to a rule petition requesting changes to the definition of the term "minimal sedation." To ensure the entire rule is current and aligns with best practices, the board will also consider other necessary changes to the rule.
Proposed Rules Workshop Meeting
The board will conduct an open public rules workshop as part of their regular business meeting on Friday, June 25, 2021, beginning at 9:00 a.m., via GoToWebinar. 
Please mark your calendar. The registration information for the rules workshop will be provided approximately one week prior to the meeting.
This meeting will be open to the public.
In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, and to promote social distancing, the board will not provide a physical location for this meeting. A virtual public meeting, without a physical meeting space, will be held instead.
For more information, please contact Tracie Drake, program manager, Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery at osteopathic@doh.wa.gov. 
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