Rule making is the process the Department of Health uses when proposing to create, change, or delete rules in order to protect public health. To learn more, see the department’s “What is Rule Making?” webpage.
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Current rules in progress
- Uniform Facility Enforcement Tools and Background Check Standardization
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The Department of Health filed a CR-101 (PDF) to consider amending ambulatory surgical facility, in-home services agency, residential treatment facility, and behavioral health agency licensing requirements as they relate to implementing a uniform enforcement tool as provided by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5271 (PDF) (chapter 121, Laws of 2024). The department will also consider standardizing background check requirements for these facility types.
- Updating references to pharmacy rules within WAC chapters for hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, in-home services agencies, and residential treatment facilities.
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The Department of Health has filed a CR-103 (PDF) amending WAC 246-320-200 pharmaceutical services for ambulatory surgical facility licensing regulations in addition to WAC sections for other facility types. The purpose of this rulemaking is to correct references to outdated pharmacy rule citations.
This rule goes into effect on June 30, 2025.