WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 5940

Creating a medical assistant-EMT certification.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Hasegawa and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a medical assistant-EMT credential enabling EMS personnel (EMT/advanced EMT/paramedic) to work in hospitals/clinics under supervision with a limited, defined scope.

Effective date 6/6/2024.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 5940

Summary — SB 5940 (2024): Creating a medical assistant‑EMT certification

Status: Chapter 217, 2024 Laws — Governor signed 3/19/2024. Effective date: 6/6/2024 (90 days after adjournment).
Introduced: 01/02/2024. Passed Senate 49–0; Passed House 96–0.

Purpose

Create a new credential — “medical assistant‑EMT” (MA‑EMT) — to allow certified emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to work in hospital and clinic settings under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner, with a defined and limited scope of duties. The intent is to help address workforce shortages, especially in rural areas, by enabling EMS-trained personnel to obtain paid positions in health care facilities.

Key provisions

  • Definition: MA‑EMT is a person who (1) holds an EMT, advanced EMT, or paramedic certification and (2) is certified by the Washington Department of Health (DOH) to perform specified functions under a health care practitioner’s supervision.
  • Eligibility / Certification:
    • Any person with an EMT, advanced EMT, or paramedic certification in good standing is eligible for MA‑EMT certification with no additional training or exam required.
    • DOH/Secretary must adopt minimum qualifications and ensure consistency with the EMS certification level (EMT/adv. EMT/paramedic).
    • A person may not practice as an MA‑EMT without the MA‑EMT certification.
    • MA‑EMT certification is transferable only between licensed hospitals in the state.
  • Authorized duties (delegated and supervised; must be within the MA‑EMT’s EMS scope and endorsements):
    • Fundamental procedures (biohazard disposal, standard precautions).
    • Clinical procedures (vital signs, prepare patients for exam, observe/report signs, simple eye irrigation, hemorrhage control, spinal/extremity immobilization, oxygen, airway maintenance/stabilization/suctioning, CPR, AED use).
    • Specimen collection (capillary puncture, venipuncture; instructing on urine/fecal specimen collection).
    • Diagnostic testing (electrocardiography, respiratory testing).
    • Limited patient intake/screening (information gathering, nonclinical judgment tasks).
    • Administering certain medications and establishing IV lines (see limits below).
  • Medication and IV limitations:
    • Medications may be unit/single dose or dosage calculated and verified by a health care practitioner; limited to vaccines, opioid antagonists, oral glucose as authorized by the supervising practitioner; and must be given pursuant to a written order.
    • MA‑EMTs may establish IV lines for diagnostic/therapeutic purposes (but not administer IV medications) and may remove IV lines under supervision.

Who is affected

  • EMS personnel (EMTs, advanced EMTs, paramedics) who may obtain the MA‑EMT credential and work in hospital/clinic settings.
  • Hospitals, clinics, and supervising health care practitioners (physicians, certain nurses, physician assistants, naturopaths, optometrists within scope) that may employ or supervise MA‑EMTs.
  • Nursing staff and clinical supervisors who may have supervisory responsibility for MA‑EMTs.
  • Patients in rural and underserved areas potentially gaining access to more staffed services.

Procedural / statutory changes

  • Amends and adds to existing medical assistant statutes (RCW chapters cited in the bill) to create the MA‑EMT classification and incorporate it into certification and scope provisions; reenacts/amends related RCWs (18.120.020; 18.130.040).

Fiscal & legislative notes

  • Appropriation: None. Fiscal note: available.
  • Unanimously passed both chambers; signed by the Governor 3/19/2024.

Public testimony and concerns

  • Supporters: Hospitals and rural providers said the credential helps workforce shortages, retains EMS personnel locally, and is modeled in other states (testimony cited 21 states with similar credentials).
  • Opponents: Nursing representatives raised concerns about wide variance in EMS training across certification levels, combining levels into one credential, and potential supervision/scope‑of‑practice risks.

This bill creates a narrowly defined new credential intended to expand employment pathways for EMS personnel while limiting practice to specified, supervised clinical functions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.