Title 43 — Title 43 STATE GOVERNMENT—EXECUTIVE
178 chapters · 3,474 sections in this title.
RCW 43.70.005 Intent.
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The legislature finds and declares that it is of importance to the people of Washington state to live in a healthy environment and to expect a minimum standard of quality in health care. The legislature further finds that the social and economic vitality of the state depends on a…
RCW 43.70.010 Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:(1) "Assessment" means the regular collection, analysis, and sharing of information about health conditions, risks, and resources in a community. Assessment activities identify trends in illness, injury, and death an…
RCW 43.70.020 Department created.
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(1) There is hereby created a department of state government to be known as the department of health. The department shall be vested with all powers and duties transferred to it by chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and such other powers and duties as may be authorized by law.…
RCW 43.70.030 Secretary of health.
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The executive head and appointing authority of the department shall be the secretary of health. The secretary shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governor in accordance with RCW 43.17.020. The secretary shall be paid a salary to be fixed by the governor in ac…
RCW 43.70.040 Secretary's powers—Rule-making authority—Report to the legislature.
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In addition to any other powers granted the secretary, the secretary may:(1) Adopt, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, rules necessary to carry out the provisions of chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess.: PROVIDED, That for rules adopted after July 23, 1995, the secretary may …
RCW 43.70.041 Five-year formal review process of existing rules.
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The department of health must establish and perform, within existing funds, a formal review process of its existing rules every five years. The goal of the review is to decrease the numbers of, simplify the process, and decrease the time required for obtaining licenses, permits, …
RCW 43.70.045 Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.
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There is created an award to honor and recognize cost-effective and quality health care services. This award shall be known as the "Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care."[ 1994 c 7 s 2.]Notes:Finding—1994 c 7: "The legislature recognizes the critical impor…
RCW 43.70.047 Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Excellence in Health Care.
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The governor, in conjunction with the secretary of health, shall identify and honor health care providers and facilities in Washington state who exhibit exceptional quality and value in the delivery of health services. The award shall be given annually consistent with the availab…
RCW 43.70.050 Collection, use, and accessibility of health-related data.
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(1) The legislature intends that the department and board promote and assess the quality, cost, and accessibility of health care throughout the state as their roles are specified in chapter 9, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. In furthe…
RCW 43.70.052 Hospital financial and patient discharge data—Financial reports—Data retrieval—American Indian health data—Reporting—Patient discharge data—Confidentiality and protection.
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(1)(a) To promote the public interest consistent with the purposes of chapter 492, Laws of 1993 as amended by chapter 267, Laws of 1995, the department shall require hospitals to submit hospital financial and patient discharge information, including any applicable information rep…
RCW 43.70.053 Hospital consolidated annual income—Reporting.
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(1)(a) Beginning July 1, 2022, for a health system operating a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, the health system must annually submit to the department a consolidated annual income statement and balance sheet, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, health…
RCW 43.70.054 Health care data standards—Submittal of standards to legislature.
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(1) To promote the public interest consistent with chapter 267, Laws of 1995, the department of health, in cooperation with the director of Washington technology solutions established in RCW 43.105.025, shall develop health care data standards to be used by, and developed in coll…
RCW 43.70.056 Health care-associated infections—Data collection and reporting—Advisory committee—Rules.
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(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Health care-associated infection" means a localized or systemic condition that results from adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent or its toxin…
RCW 43.70.057 Hospital emergency room patient care information—Data collection, maintenance, analysis, and dissemination—Rules.
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(1) The legislature finds that public health data is critical to the department's ability to respond to emerging public health threats and chronic conditions affecting the public health and, therefore, intends that the department be fully informed about emerging public health thr…
RCW 43.70.060 Duties of department—Promotion of health care cost-effectiveness.
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It is the intent of the legislature to promote appropriate use of health care resources to maximize access to adequate health care services. The legislature understands that the rapidly increasing costs of health care are limiting access to care. To promote health care cost-effec…
RCW 43.70.064 Health care quality—Findings and intent—Requirements for conducting study under RCW 43.70.066.
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The legislature finds that it is difficult for consumers of health care services to determine the quality of health care prior to purchase or utilization of medical care. The legislature also finds that accountability is a key component in promoting quality assurance and quality …
RCW 43.70.066 Health care quality—Findings and intent—Requirements for conducting study under RCW 43.70.066.
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(1) The department of health shall study the feasibility of a uniform quality assurance and improvement program for use by all public and private health plans and health care providers and facilities. In this study, the department shall consult with:(a) Public and private purchas…
RCW 43.70.068 Quality assurance—Interagency cooperation.
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The department of health, the health care authority, the department of social and health services, the office of the insurance commissioner, and the department of labor and industries shall form an interagency group for coordination and consultation on quality assurance activitie…
RCW 43.70.070 Duties of department—Analysis of health services.
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The department shall evaluate and analyze readily available data and information to determine the outcome and effectiveness of health services, utilization of services, and payment methods. This section should not be construed as allowing the department access to proprietary info…
RCW 43.70.075 Identity of whistleblower protected—Remedy for retaliatory action—Definitions—Rules.
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(1)(a) The identity of a whistleblower must remain confidential if that whistleblower:(i) Complains, in good faith, to the department of health about the improper quality of care by a health care provider, or in a health care facility;(ii) Initiates in good faith any investigatio…
RCW 43.70.080 Transfer of powers and duties from the department of social and health services.
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The powers and duties of the department of social and health services and the secretary of social and health services under the following statutes are hereby transferred to the department of health and the secretary of health: Chapters 16.70, 18.46, 18.71, 18.73, 18.76, 69.30, 70…
RCW 43.70.081 Transfer of certain behavioral health-related powers, duties, and functions from the department of social and health services.
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(1) The powers, duties, and functions of the department of social and health services pertaining to licensing and certification of behavioral health provider agencies and facilities, except for state-run mental health institutions, are hereby transferred to the department of heal…
RCW 43.70.090 Authority to administer oaths and issue subpoenas—Provisions governing subpoenas.
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(1) The secretary shall have full authority to administer oaths and take testimony thereunder, to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before the secretary together with all books, memoranda, papers, and other documents, articles or instruments, and to compel the…
RCW 43.70.095 Civil fines.
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This section governs the assessment of a civil fine against a person by the department. This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.(1) The department shall give written notice to the person against whom it assesses a civil fine. The notice shall state the…
RCW 43.70.097 Enforcement in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.
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Enforcement action taken after July 23, 1995, by the director or the department shall be in accordance with RCW 43.05.100 and 43.05.110.[ 1995 c 403 s 626.]Notes:Findings—Short title—Intent—1995 c 403: See note following RCW 34.05.328.
RCW 43.70.100 Reports of violations by secretary—Duty to institute proceedings—Notice to alleged violator.
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(1) It shall be the duty of each assistant attorney general, prosecuting attorney, or city attorney to whom the secretary reports any violation of chapter 43.20 or 43.70 RCW, or regulations promulgated under them, to cause appropriate proceedings to be instituted in the proper co…
RCW 43.70.110 License fees—Costs—Other charges—Waiver.
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(1) The secretary shall charge fees to the licensee for obtaining a license. Physicians regulated pursuant to chapter 18.71 RCW who reside and practice in Washington and obtain or renew a retired active license are exempt from such fees. Municipal corporations providing emergency…
RCW 43.70.112 Online access to health care resources—Annual accounting of use of funds and use of online resources—University of Washington.
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Within the amounts transferred from the department of health under RCW 43.70.110(3), the University of Washington shall, through the health sciences library, provide online access to selected vital clinical resources, medical journals, decision support tools, and evidence-based r…
RCW 43.70.115 Licenses—Denial, suspension, revocation, modification.
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This section governs the denial of an application for a license or the suspension, revocation, or modification of a license by the department. This section does not govern actions taken under chapter 18.130 RCW.(1) The department shall give written notice of the denial of an appl…
RCW 43.70.117 Health care professionals licensed in another state or United States territory or the District of Columbia—In-state practice on a limited basis—Requirements—Limitations.
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(1) Persons licensed as health care professionals in another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia, but not licensed by a disciplining authority specified in RCW 18.130.040, may practice in this state on a limited voluntary basis only as provided in …
RCW 43.70.120 Federal programs—Rules—Statutes to be construed to meet federal law.
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In furtherance of the policy of this state to cooperate with the federal government in the public health programs, the department of health shall adopt such rules and regulations as may become necessary to entitle this state to participate in federal funds unless the same be expr…
RCW 43.70.125 Health care facility certification—Unfunded federal mandates—Applicant fees.
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The federal government requires Washington health care facilities to be certified in order to receive federal health care program reimbursement. The department receives funding from the federal government to perform the certifications and recertifications of these health care fac…
RCW 43.70.130 Powers and duties of secretary—General.
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The secretary of health shall:(1) Exercise all the powers and perform all the duties prescribed by law with respect to public health and vital statistics;(2) Investigate and study factors relating to the preservation, promotion, and improvement of the health of the people, the ca…
RCW 43.70.140 Annual conference of health officers.
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In order to receive the assistance and advice of local health officers in carrying out the secretary's duties and responsibilities, the secretary of health shall hold annually a conference of local health officers, at such place as the secretary deems convenient, for the discussi…
RCW 43.70.150 Registration of vital statistics.
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The secretary of health shall have charge of the state system of registration of births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and decrees of divorce, annulment and separate maintenance, and shall prepare the necessary rules, forms, and blanks for obtaining records, and insure the fai…
RCW 43.70.170 Threat to public health—Investigation, examination or sampling of articles or conditions constituting—Access—Subpoena power.
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The secretary on his or her own motion or upon the complaint of any interested party, may investigate, examine, sample or inspect any article or condition constituting a threat to the public health including, but not limited to, outbreaks of communicable diseases, food poisoning,…
RCW 43.70.180 Threat to public health—Order prohibiting sale or disposition of food or other items pending investigation.
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Pending the results of an investigation provided for under RCW 43.70.170, the secretary may issue an order prohibiting the disposition or sale of any food or other item involved in the investigation. The order of the secretary shall not be effective for more than fifteen days wit…
RCW 43.70.183 Disease or public health threat control—Prescriptions and standing orders by secretary of health.
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(1) The secretary or the secretary's designee, who must be a department employee, may issue a prescription or standing order for any biological product, device, or drug for purposes of controlling and preventing the spread of, mitigating, or treating any infectious or noninfectio…
RCW 43.70.185 Inspection of property where marine species located—Prohibitions on harvest or landing—Penalties.
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(1) The department may enter and inspect any property, lands, or waters, of this state in or on which any marine species are located or from which such species are harvested, whether recreationally or for sale or barter, and any land or water of this state which may cause or cont…
RCW 43.70.190 Violations—Injunctions and legal proceedings authorized.
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The secretary of health or local health officer may bring an action to enjoin a violation or the threatened violation of any of the provisions of the public health laws of this state or any rules or regulation made by the state board of health or the department of health pursuant…
RCW 43.70.195 Public water systems—Receivership actions brought by secretary—Plan for disposition.
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(1) In any action brought by the secretary of health or by a local health officer pursuant to chapter 7.60 RCW to place a public water system in receivership, the petition shall include the names of one or more suitable candidates for receiver who have consented to assume operati…
RCW 43.70.200 Enforcement of health laws and state or local rules and regulations upon request of local health officer.
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Upon the request of a local health officer, the secretary of health is hereby authorized and empowered to take legal action to enforce the public health laws and rules and regulations of the state board of health or local rules and regulations within the jurisdiction served by th…
RCW 43.70.210 Right of person to rely on prayer to alleviate ailments not abridged.
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Nothing in chapter 43.20 or 43.70 RCW, or RCW 43.70.120 shall be construed to abridge the right of any person to rely exclusively on spiritual means alone through prayer to alleviate human ailments, sickness or disease, in accordance with the tenets and practice of the Church of …
RCW 43.70.220 Transfer of powers and duties from the department of licensing.
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The powers and duties of the department of licensing and the director of licensing under the following statutes are hereby transferred to the department of health and the secretary of health: Chapters 18.06, 18.19, 18.22, 18.25, 18.29, 18.32, 18.34, 18.35, 18.36A, 18.50, 18.52, 1…
RCW 43.70.230 Office of health consumer assistance created—Duties.
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There is created in the department an office of health consumer assistance. The office shall establish a statewide hotline and shall assist and serve as an advocate for consumers who are complainants or witnesses in a licensing or disciplinary proceeding.[ 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 30…
RCW 43.70.240 Written operating agreements.
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The secretary and each of the professional licensing and disciplinary boards listed in RCW 18.130.040(2)(b) shall enter into written operating agreements on administrative procedures with input from the regulated profession and the public. The intent of these agreements is to pro…
RCW 43.70.250 License fees for professions, occupations, and businesses.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5998-S.SL) ***(1) It shall be the policy of the state of Washington that the cost of each professional, occupational, or business licensing program be fully borne by the members of that profession, occupation, or business.(2) The secretary shall from t…
RCW 43.70.260 Appointment of temporary additional members of boards and committees for administration and grading of examinations.
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The secretary may, at the request of a board or committee established under Title 18 RCW under the administrative authority of the department of health, appoint temporary additional members for the purpose of participating as members during the administration and grading of pract…
RCW 43.70.270 License moratorium for persons in the service—Rules.
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(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the license of any person licensed by the secretary of health to practice a profession or engage in an occupation, if valid and in force and effect at the time the licensee entered service in the armed forces, the United S…
RCW 43.70.280 Procedure for issuance, renewal, or reissuance of credentials—Extension or modification of licensing, certification, or registration period authorized.
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(1) The secretary, in consultation with health profession boards and commissions, shall establish by rule the administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees for initial issue, renewal, and reissue of a credential for professions under RCW 18.130.040, including p…