Section 246-918-005 - [Effective 12/15/2024] DefinitionsThe definitions in this section and definitions in RCW 18.71A.010 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1) "Collaboration agreement" means a written agreement that describes the manner in which the physician assistant is supervised by or collaborates with at least one physician and that is signed by the physician assistant and one or more physicians or the physician assistant's employer.(2) "Commission" means the Washington medical commission.(3) "Commission approved program" means a physician assistant program accredited by the committee on allied health education and accreditation (CAHEA); the commission on accreditation of allied health education programs (CAAHEP); the accreditation review committee on education for the physician assistant (ARC-PA); or other substantially equivalent organization(s) approved by the commission.(4) "Employer" means the scope appropriate clinician, such as a medical director, who is authorized to enter into the collaboration agreement with a physician assistant on behalf of the facility, group, clinic, or other organization that employs the physician assistant.(5) "NCCPA" means National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.(6) "Participating physician" means a physician that supervises or collaborates with a physician assistant pursuant to a collaboration agreement.(7) "Physician" means an individual licensed under chapter 18.57, 18.71, or 18.71B RCW.(8) "Physician assistant" means a person who is licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW by the commission to practice medicine according to a collaboration agreement with one or more participating physicians.(a) "Certified physician assistant" means an individual who has successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program and has passed the initial national boards examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).(b) "Noncertified physician assistant" means an individual who: (i) Successfully completed an accredited and commission approved physician assistant program, is eligible for the NCCPA examination, and was licensed in Washington state prior to July 1, 1999;(ii) Is qualified based on work experience and education and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989;(iii) Graduated from an international medical school and was licensed prior to July 1, 1989; or(iv) Holds an interim permit issued pursuant to RCW 18.71A.020(1).(c) "Physician assistant-surgical assistant" means an individual who was licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW as a physician assistant between September 30, 1989, and December 31, 1989, to function in a limited extent as authorized in WAC 246-918-250 and 246-918-260.(9) "Practice agreement" means a mutually agreed upon plan, as detailed in WAC 246-918-055, between a supervising physician and physician assistant, which describes the manner and extent to which the physician assistant will practice and be supervised.(10) "Supervising physician" means any physician or osteopathic physician identified in a practice agreement as providing primary clinical and administrative oversight for a physician assistant.Wash. Admin. Code § 246-918-005
Amended by WSR 15-04-122, Filed 2/3/2015, effective 3/6/2015Amended by WSR 20-08-069, Filed 3/26/2020, effective 4/26/2020Amended by WSR 21-22-043, Filed 10/27/2021, effective 11/27/2021Amended by WSR 24-23-043, Filed 11/14/2024, effective 12/15/2024Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.71.050 and chapter 18.71 RCW. 01-18-085, § 246-918-005, filed 9/5/01, effective 10/6/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, § 246-918-005, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.020 and 18.71.060. 93-21-016, § 246-918-005, filed 10/11/93, effective 11/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 92-12-089 (Order 278B), § 246-918-005, filed 6/3/92, effective 7/4/92.