SB 5877
In CommitteeSenate
Anesth. assistant surcharges
Making a technical correction to the surcharges authorized for certified anesthesiologist assistants.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill adds a $70 annual surcharge for certified anesthesiologist assistants to fund the state’s physician health program, and clarifies that the surcharge applies to all practitioners under the Washington Medical Commission—not just physicians. It also updates licensing requirements for anesthesiologist assistants.
- Adds a $70 annual surcharge on license renewals and new licenses for certified anesthesiologist assistants, collected by the Department of Health and deposited into the impaired physician account.
- Clarifies that the $70 surcharge applies to all practitioners regulated by the Washington Medical Commission—including physicians, physician assistants, and anesthesiologist assistants—not just physicians.
- Requires funds in the impaired physician account to be transferred to the contracted health program provider within 60 days of receipt.
- Amends licensing rules for anesthesiologist assistants to include proof of graduation from an accredited program and passing a national certification exam.
- Expands the list of licensees subject to the $70 surcharge in existing law to explicitly include anesthesiologist assistants.
Who is affected
- Certified anesthesiologist assistants — Must pay an additional $70 annual surcharge on top of regular license fees to support the state's physician health program, starting at license renewal or issuance.
- Physicians and physician assistants — Already subject to the $70 annual surcharge; the bill clarifies that the surcharge applies to them as part of the broader group of practitioners under the Washington Medical Commission.
- Washington Medical Commission and contracted health program providers — Will receive funding from the surcharge to operate and support the physician health program, which provides evaluation, treatment, and monitoring for impaired practitioners.
- Other health care providers in Washington — May benefit from improved support and early intervention for impaired colleagues through the physician health program, which the surcharge helps fund.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Expands the funding base for the physician health program by including anesthesiologist assistants in the surcharge, strengthening the program’s capacity to support early intervention and treatment for impaired practitioners—including non-physician providers—thereby improving patient safety and provider well-being.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2)Clarifies that the $70 surcharge applies uniformly to *all* practitioners under the Washington Medical Commission—including anesthesiologist assistants—ensuring consistent funding for the impaired practitioner program and reducing ambiguity that could undermine program integrity or create enforcement disparities.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2), Sec. 3(3)(c)Establishes clear national certification and accredited-program requirements for anesthesiologist assistants, raising professional standards and improving workforce quality—benefiting patients and supporting equitable access to high-quality anesthesia care.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Potential Concerns (3)
Imposes a $70 annual surcharge on certified anesthesiologist assistants (and clarifies it applies to all practitioners under the Washington Medical Commission), increasing their licensing costs without a corresponding increase in direct services or benefits specific to them.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2)Adds a new regulatory cost burden on a small, emerging healthcare profession (anesthesiologist assistants), which may discourage entry into the field or increase operational costs for employers—especially in rural or underserved areas where such providers are most needed.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2)While the surcharge funds the physician health program, the bill does not guarantee that anesthesiologist assistants will have equal access to the program’s services (e.g., evaluation, treatment, monitoring) despite being subject to the same surcharge as physicians and physician assistants.
HealthcareRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Anesthesiologist assistants are directly required to pay a $70 annual surcharge, increasing their licensing costs. While they gain access to the physician health program, the benefit is not guaranteed or quantified, and the surcharge is not offset by new services or fee waivers. The net effect is a modest financial burden on a small, mid-income healthcare profession.
Physicians and physician assistants already pay the $70 surcharge; the bill merely clarifies their inclusion. No new cost is added, but the explicit inclusion of anesthesiologist assistants under the same surcharge reinforces program funding stability—potentially improving support for all practitioners, including them.
The Washington Medical Commission and its contracted health program provider gain reliable, expanded funding to support early intervention and monitoring of impaired practitioners across *all* regulated professions—including anesthesiologist assistants. This enhances program capacity and public safety outcomes.
Other health care providers benefit indirectly from a stronger, better-funded impairment program that covers more provider types, potentially reducing the risk of impaired colleagues practicing unsafely and improving system-wide accountability and support.
Patients benefit from improved provider safety and early intervention for impairment across a broader range of licensed providers—including anesthesiologist assistants—who often deliver critical anesthesia services in hospitals and surgical centers.