Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

This chapter is enacted:(1) In the exercise of the police power of the state and to provide an adequate public agency to act as a disciplinary body for the members of the chiropractic profession licensed to practice chiropractic in this state;(2) Because the health and well-being…

See chapter 18.120 RCW.

(1) Chiropractic is the practice of health care that deals with the diagnosis or analysis and care or treatment of the vertebral subluxation complex and its effects, articular dysfunction, and musculoskeletal disorders, all for the restoration and maintenance of health and recogn…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Department" means the department of health.(2) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee.(3) "Chiropractor" means an ind…

It is a violation of RCW 18.130.190 for any person to practice chiropractic in this state unless the person has obtained a license as provided in this chapter.[ 1987 c 150 s 14.]Notes:Severability—1987 c 150: See RCW 18.122.901.

The Washington state chiropractic quality assurance commission is established, consisting of fourteen members appointed by the governor to four-year terms, and including eleven practicing chiropractors and three public members. No member may serve more than two consecutive full t…

The governor may remove a member of the commission for neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in office. Whenever the governor is satisfied that a member of the commission has been guilty of neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance or misfeasance in office,…

Members must be residents of this state. Members must be licensed chiropractors for a period of five years before appointment. Public members of the commission may not be a member of any other health care licensing board or commission, or have a fiduciary obligation to a facility…

(1) The secretary shall employ an executive director that is:(a) Hired by and serves at the pleasure of the commission;(b) Exempt from the provisions of the civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW and whose salary is established by the commission in accordance with RCW 43.03.028; an…

The commission shall elect officers each year. Meetings of the commission are open to the public, except that the commission may hold executive sessions to the extent permitted by chapter 42.30 RCW. The secretary of health shall furnish such secretarial, clerical, and other assis…

The commission is the successor in interest of the board of chiropractic examiners, the chiropractic disciplinary board, and the chiropractic peer review committee. All contracts, undertakings, agreements, rules, regulations, and policies of those bodies continue in full force an…

In addition to the authority provided in RCW 42.52.804, the commission, its members, or staff as directed by the commission, may communicate, present information requested, volunteer information, testify before legislative committees, and educate the legislature, as the commissio…

The Uniform Disciplinary Act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.[ 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 108; 1987 c 150 s 12; 1986 c 259 s 21.]Notes:Severability—1987 c 150: See RCW 18.122.901.Sever…

The legislature finds and declares that the costs of health care to the people are rising disproportionately to other costs and that there is a paramount concern that the right of the people to obtain access to health care in all its facets is being impaired thereby. For this rea…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state and its political subdivisions shall accept the services of licensed chiropractors for any service covered by their licenses with relation to any person receiving benefits, salaries, wages, or any other type of compensation fr…

The state and its political subdivisions, and all officials, agents, employees, or representatives thereof, are prohibited from in any way discriminating against licensed chiropractors in performing and receiving compensation for services covered by their licenses.[ 1974 ex.s. c …

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state and its political subdivisions, and all officials, agents, employees, or representatives thereof, are prohibited from entering into any agreement or contract with any individual, group, association, or corporation which in any…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of RCW 18.25.0192 through 18.25.0195 and 18.25.0197 it is immaterial whether the cost of any policy, plan, agreement, or contract be deemed additional compensation for services, or otherwise.[ 2000 c 171 s 6; 1974 ex.s. …

RCW 18.25.0192 through 18.25.0196 shall apply to all agreements, renewals, or contracts issued on or after July 24, 1974.[ 2000 c 171 s 7; 1974 ex.s. c 97 s 6. Formerly RCW 18.25.170.]Notes:Severability—1974 ex.s. c 97: See note following RCW 18.25.0192.

(1) Any person not now licensed to practice chiropractic in this state and who desires to practice chiropractic in this state, before it shall be lawful for him or her to do so, shall make application therefor to the secretary, upon such form and in such manner as may be adopted …

The commission shall have authority to grant accreditation to chiropractic schools and colleges.The commission shall have authority to adopt educational standards which may include standards of any accreditation agency recognized by the office of education of the department of he…

Examinations for license to practice chiropractic shall be developed and administered, or approved, or both, by the commission according to the method deemed by it to be the most practicable and expeditious to test the applicant's qualifications. The commission may approve an exa…

The commission may, in its discretion, waive any examination required by this chapter of persons applying for a license to practice chiropractic if, in its opinion, the applicant has successfully passed an examination conducted by the national board of chiropractic examiners of t…

Persons licensed to practice chiropractic under the laws of any other state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or province of Canada, having qualifications substantially equivalent to those required by this chapter, may, in the discretion of t…

Every person practicing chiropractic shall, as a prerequisite to renewal of license, submit to the secretary at the time of application therefor, satisfactory proof showing attendance of at least twenty-five hours per year during the preceding credential period, at one or more ch…

(1) An individual may place his or her license on inactive status. The holder of an inactive license shall not practice chiropractic in this state without first activating the license.(2) The inactive renewal fee shall be established by the secretary pursuant to RCW 43.70.250. Fa…

Chiropractic practitioners shall observe and be subject to all state and municipal regulations relating to the control of contagious and infectious diseases, sign death certificates and any and all matters pertaining to public health, reporting to the proper health officers the s…

On all cards, books, papers, signs or other written or printed means of giving information to the public, used by those licensed by this chapter to practice chiropractic, the practitioner shall use after or below his or her name the term chiropractor, chiropractic physician, D.C.…

It shall be the duty of the several prosecuting attorneys of this state to prosecute all persons charged with the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. It shall be the duty of the secretary to aid said attorneys of this state in the enforcement of this chapter.[ 199…

(1) In addition to those acts defined in chapter 18.130 RCW, the term "unprofessional conduct" as used in this chapter includes failing to differentiate chiropractic care from any and all other methods of healing at all times.(2) Proceedings involving alleged unprofessional condu…

(1) A chiropractor may employ a technician to operate X-ray equipment after the technician has registered with the commission.(2) The commission may adopt rules necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.[ 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 117; 1991 c 222 s 9.]Notes:Effec…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit:(1) The temporary practice in this state of chiropractic by any chiropractor licensed by another state, territory, or country in which he or she resides. However, the chiropractor shall not establish a practice open to the ge…

All state health care purchasers shall have the authority to set service and fee limitations on chiropractic costs. The health care authority shall establish pilot projects in defined geographic regions of the state to contract with organizations of chiropractors for a prepaid ca…