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from: Draft Bill relating to non-traditional Providers       click 2009 for proposed bill

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. This act may be known and cited as the health care choice act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.

(1) The legislature finds that, based upon comprehensive report by the national institutes of health and other research data, hundreds of thousands of individuals in this state are presently receiving a substantial amount of health care from providers of health care services who are not licensed, registered, or certified by this state. Such health care services are often referred to as complementary and alternative health care practices or natural healing therapies and modalities.

(2) The legislature, in RCW 18.120.010, confirms its intent that all individuals should be permitted to enter into a health profession unless there is an overwhelming need for the state to protect the interests of the public by restricting entry into the profession and, p. 1 SB 5755

If such a need is identified, the regulation adopted by the state should be set at the least restrictive level consistent with the public interest to be protected.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature to allow health care practitioners who are not licensed, certified, or registered by the state, to provide health care services, unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the specific health care service causes serious physical or mental harm or causes imminent and significant risk of discernable, significant, and serious physical or mental injury, under the circumstances in which the health care practitioner knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, would result in such injury.

(4) It is recognized that this chapter may authorize conduct by health care practitioners who are not licensed, certified, or registered by the state, which may be interpreted by the department of health or regulatory boards or commissions as overlapping with the statutory definition of the unlicensed practice of a health profession in RCW 18.120.020(4). It is the intent of this chapter to provide those practicing under this chapter safe harbor from violations of other provisions in this title.

 

from:  Modifying Credentialing Standards for Counselors Bill ****

 House Bill Credentialing of Counselors March 2008 ****

The scope of practice of certified counselors and certified advisers consists exclusively of the following:

(1) Appropriate screening of the client's level of functional impairment using the global assessment of functioning as described in the fourth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, published in 1994. Recognition of a mental or physical disorder or a global assessment of functioning score of sixty or less requires that the certified counselor or certified adviser refer the client to a physician, osteopathic physician, psychiatric registered nurse practitioner, or licensed mental health practitioner, as defined by the secretary, for diagnosis and treatment;

(2) Certified counselors and certified advisers may counsel and guide a client in adjusting to life situations, developing new skills, and making desired changes, in accordance with the theories and techniques of a specific counseling method and established practice standards, if the client has a global assessment of functioning score greater than sixty;

"Psychotherapy" means the practice of counseling using diagnosis of mental disorders according to the fourth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, published in 1994, and the development of treatment plans for counseling based on diagnosis of mental disorders in accordance with established practice standards.
 

 

 

 

 

from: The American Psychiatric Association:

Since the DSM-IV was published in 1994, we've seen many advances in our knowledge of psychiatric illness. This Text Revision incorporates information culled from a comprehensive literature review of research about mental disorders published since DSM-IV was completed in 1994. Updated information is included about the associated features, culture, age, and gender features, prevalence, course, and familial pattern of mental disorders. The DSM-IV-TR brings this essential diagnostic tool up-to-date, to promote effective diagnosis, treatment, and quality of care. Now you can get all the essential diagnostic information you rely on from the DSM-IV along with important updates not found in the 1994 edition. Stay current with important updates to DSM-IV-TR TM

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