Title 43 — Title 43 STATE GOVERNMENT—EXECUTIVE

The department shall carry out the following duties:(1) Administer the program;(2) Identify organizations eligible to receive funds to implement the program;(3) Develop and adopt the necessary rules and procedures for implementation of the program and for dispersal [disbursal] of…

The department shall, by rule, establish program standards, eligibility standards, eligibility criteria, and administrative rules for emergency housing programs and specify other benefits that may arise in consultation with providers.[ 1999 c 267 s 5.]Notes:Findings—Intent—Severa…

(1) The department shall be the principal state department responsible for coordinating federal and state resources and activities in housing, except for programs administered by the Washington state housing finance commission under chapter 43.180 RCW, and for evaluating the oper…

The department shall provide technical assistance and information to state agencies and local governments to assist in the identification and removal of regulatory barriers to the development and placement of affordable housing. In providing assistance the department may:(1) Anal…

(1) The legislature finds that:(a) The trend toward smaller household sizes will continue into the foreseeable future;(b) Many of these households are in housing units that contain more bedrooms than occupants;(c) There are older homeowners on relatively low, fixed income who are…

(1) The department may develop and administer a home-matching program for the purpose of providing grants and technical assistance to eligible organizations to operate local home-matching programs. For purposes of this section, "eligible organizations" are those organizations eli…

(1) The department shall provide technical assistance and loan packaging services that enable minority and women-owned business enterprises to obtain financing under the linked deposit program created under RCW 43.86A.060.(2) The department, in consultation with the office of min…

There is established in the department of commerce a grant program to enhance funding for prostitution prevention and intervention services. Activities that can be funded through this grant program shall provide effective prostitution prevention and intervention services, such as…

(1) Applications for funding under this chapter must:(a) Meet the criteria in RCW 43.63A.720; and(b) Contain evidence of active participation of the community and its commitment to providing effective prevention and intervention services for prostitutes through the participation …

At a minimum, grant applications must include the following:(1) The proposed geographic service area;(2) A description of the extent and effect of the needs for prostitution prevention and intervention within the relevant geographic area;(3) An explanation of how the funds will b…

(1) Subject to funds appropriated by the legislature, including funds in the prostitution prevention and intervention account, the department of commerce shall make awards under the grant program established by RCW 43.63A.720.(2) Awards shall be made competitively based on the pu…

The prostitution prevention and intervention account is created in the state treasury. Expenditures from the account may be used in the following order of priority:(1) Funding the statewide coordinating committee on sex trafficking;(2) Programs that provide mental health and subs…

(1) A competitive grant program to assist nonprofit organizations in acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating performing arts, art museums, and cultural facilities is created.(2)(a) The department shall submit a list of recommended performing arts, art museum projects, and cult…

The definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 43.63A.125, this section, and RCW * 43.63A.766 and 43.63A.768 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Department" means the department of commerce.(2) "Distressed community" means: (a) A county that has an unemployme…

(1) The department shall develop accountability and reporting standards for grant recipients. At a minimum, the department shall use the criteria listed in RCW 43.63A.125(2)(b) to evaluate the progress of each grant recipient.(2) Beginning January 1, 2011, the department shall su…

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…

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…

(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.…

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…

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 …

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, …

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…

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…

(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…

(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…

(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…

(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…

(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…

(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…

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…

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 …

(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…

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…

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…

(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…

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…

(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…

(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…

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…

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.

(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…

(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…

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…

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…

(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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…