ARC 3617C

ARC 3617C

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DIVISION[645]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rule making related to practice of respiratory care and polysomnography and providing an opportunity for public comment

The Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography hereby proposes to amend Chapter 261, "Licensure of Respiratory Care Practitioners, Polysomnographic Technologists, and Respiratory Care and Polysomnography Practitioners," and Chapter 262, "Continuing Education for Respiratory Care Practitioners and Polysomnographic Technologists," Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rule Making

This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 148G.5 and 152B.6.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code sections 148G.5 and 152B.6.

Purpose and Summary

Item 1 corrects the name of the National Board for Respiratory Care. Item 2 updates the Board's address. Items 3 and 6 clarify the required documentation for a background check. Applicants will get informational documents in a packet from the Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography that do not need to be submitted with a license application. This proposed rule making clarifies that for the background check the Board needs the cards and not the informational documents. Items 4 and 5 add options for respiratory care students seeking to meet the requirements for polysomnography licensure. This change in rule more closely matches options given in the Iowa Code. Item 7 changes the number of continuing education hours that a dual licensee must earn from in-person courses. This change brings the requirements in line with the other two licenses issued by the Board. Item 8 reletters paragraph 262.3(2)"e" as 262.3(2)"f" to allow for the new paragraph proposed in Item 9. Item 9 will allow licensees to earn continuing education for trainings that may not be related to a clinical process but are still in an area of education that is utilized by the practitioner in the practitioner's regular practice.

Fiscal Impact

This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 645—Chapter 18.

Public Comment

Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written or oral comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography no later than 4:30 p.m.on March 7, 2018. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rule making.

Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

The following rule-making actions are proposed:

Item 1. Amend rule 645—261.1(148G,152B), definition of "NBRC," as follows:

"NBRC" means the National Board of for Respiratory Care.

Item 2. Amend paragraph 261.2(1)"a" as follows:

a. The applicant shall complete a board-approved application packet. Application forms may be obtained from the board's Web site (http://idph.iowa.gov/Licensing) website (idph.iowa.gov/Licensing) or directly from the board office or may be submitted electronically at https://IBPLicense.iowa.gov IBPLicense.iowa.gov. Paper applications shall be sent to Board of Respiratory Care and Polysomnography, Professional Licensure Division, Fifth Floor, Lucas State Office Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075.

Item 3. Amend paragraph 261.2(1)"d" as follows:

d. The applicant shall submit two completed sets of the fingerprint packet cards to facilitate a national criminal history background check. The cost for the evaluation of the fingerprint packet cards and the criminal history background checks by the Iowa division of criminal investigation (DCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history background checks shall be assessed to the applicant. The board may withhold issuing a license pending receipt of a report from the DCI and FBI.

Item 4. Amend subrule 261.4(2) as follows:

261.4(2) Graduation from a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC and completion of the sleep add-on program accredited by CoARC. A for which a transcript shall be submitted to the board office directly from the college or university; or and direct-source verification of one of the following:

a. Completion of the curriculum for a polysomnographic certificate established and accredited by the CAAHEP as an extension of the respiratory care program, or

b. Obtaining the sleep disorder specialist credential from the NBRC, or

c. Obtaining the registered polysomnographic technologist credential from the BRPT; or

Item 5. Amend paragraph 261.5(2)"b" as follows:

b. Completion of a sleep add-on program accredited by CoARC . A for which a transcript shall be submitted to the board office directly from the college or university; or and direct-source verification of one of the following:

(1)Completion of the curriculum for a polysomnographic certificate established and accredited by the CAAHEP as an extension of the respiratory care program, or

(2)Obtaining the sleep disorder specialist credential from the NBRC, or

(3)Obtaining the registered polysomnographic technologist credential from the BRPT; or

Item 6. Amend subrule 261.14(3) as follows:

261.14(3) If the license has been inactive for two or more years, the licensee shall submit two completed sets of the fingerprint packet cards to facilitate a national criminal history background check. The cost for the evaluation of the fingerprint packet and the DCI and FBI criminal history background checks shall be assessed to the applicant. The board may withhold issuing a license pending receipt of a report from the DCI and FBI.

Item 7. Amend paragraph 262.2(1)"b" as follows:

b. For respiratory care and polysomnography practitioner licensees: complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education. Eighteen Fourteen of the 24 hours of continuing education shall be earned by completing a program in which the instructor conducts the class in person or by employing an electronic technology that allows for real-time communication between the instructor and licensee. At least 8 hours but not more than 12 hours shall be on sleep-related topics.

Item 8. Reletter paragraph 262.3(2)"e" as 262.3(2)"f."

Item 9. Adopt the following new paragraph 262.3(2)"e":

e. A maximum of 6 hours of continuing education may be obtained by completing programs which enhance a supplemental or complementary skill set directly related to the practice of respiratory care or polysomnography. Content areas include but are not limited to record keeping, electronic medical records, geriatric care, mandatory reporter training, and ethics.