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House confirms Warnick's bill to
encourage
retired doctors to volunteer
Rep. Judy Warnick,
R-Moses Lake, saw approval of a bill today she sponsored at the request
of a constituent encouraging retired physicians to volunteer. The House
passed the bill 96-0.
House Bill 1899 would allow retired physicians to volunteer without
paying excessive fees for increased training and certification.
Currently, retired active physicians must pay a license fee and obtain
200 continuing education credits in a four-year period. This proposal
would reduce requirements to 50 credits in that same time period and
removes the requirement to pay a license fee.
“The goal is to
encourage doctors who have served their communities to continue to do so
after they have retired,” Warnick said. “We are constantly hearing about
how citizens have limited access to good medical care. I'm glad to see
retired physician’s skills will not go to waste.”
Warnick noted the bill
will provide an opportunity for retired active physicians to provide
volunteer services at such places as Boy Scout camps, free medical
clinics and with nonprofit organizations like Doctors Without Borders.
The bill had bipartisan
support as it moved through the process. Warnick noted she worked to
address some of the safety concerns associated with her original
proposal to remove all continuing education credit requirements.
“We made changes to ensure active retired doctors are keeping up with
safety standards,” Warnick said. “Another amendment makes the new law
apply to only doctors who live within our state.”
The bill now goes to the
Senate for further consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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