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WA HB2618

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/22/2026

Primary Sponsor

Clyde Shavers

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2025-2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Amends RCW 18.35.161 to protect audiologists' authority to determine whether telehealth or in-person care is most appropriate for individual patients
  • Requires the Board of Hearing and Speech to apply standards consistently across telehealth and in-person modalities without infringing on licensed practitioners' clinical autonomy
  • Prohibits creating different professional practice standards for telehealth versus in-person audiology services
  • Directs the Board to respect clinical decision-making autonomy when adopting rules related to standards of care for hearing aid specialists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists

Legislative Description

Protecting the clinical autonomy of audiologists.

Last Action

First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.

1/22/2026

Committee Referrals

Health Care and Wellness1/22/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available