Bill > HB1693

This bill amends existing Washington state law to create a specific exemption for staff working at Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program clinics to perform certain hematological screening tests. The bill allows WIC clinic staff to conduct limited blood tests using heel-stick, toe-stick, or finger-stick sampling techniques, which were previously not explicitly permitted under the existing healthcare worker regulations. WIC is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides nutrition education, food support, and health screenings for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children. The amendment adds this specific exemption to a list of existing exceptions for medical procedures that can be performed by individuals who may not typically be licensed to draw blood, such as those working for government agencies, end-stage renal disease facilities, or participating in medical training programs. By creating this exemption, the bill enables WIC clinic staff to more efficiently provide basic health screenings without requiring a fully licensed phlebotomist to conduct these simple blood tests.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1693&Year=2025&Initiative=false