H.B. 262

1

RESPIRATORY CARE AMENDMENTS
2 2006 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Bradley G. Last
5 Senate Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the Respiratory Care Practices Act to clarify that the installation of
10 durable medical equipment and instructions on its use does not require licensure under
11 the chapter, and to change licensure requirements from permissive to mandatory
12 beginning January 1, 2007.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . amends definitions;
16 . clarifies exemptions for licensure under the chapter;
17 . amends qualifications for licensure to reflect current entities that accredit respiratory
18 care practitioners;
19 . requires licensure under the chapter beginning January 1, 2007;
20 . establishes that after January 1, 2007 it is unlawful conduct to practice as a
21 respiratory care practitioner without a license under the chapter;
22 . establishes penalties for unlawful conduct; and
23 . makes technical amendments.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None

28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 58-57-2, as last amended by Chapter 131, Laws of Utah 2003
31 58-57-4, as last amended by Chapter 313, Laws of Utah 1994
32 58-57-5, as enacted by Chapter 208, Laws of Utah 1990
33 58-57-7, as last amended by Chapter 141, Laws of Utah 1999
34 58-57-10, as enacted by Chapter 208, Laws of Utah 1990
35 58-57-11, as enacted by Chapter 208, Laws of Utah 1990
36 58-57-12, as enacted by Chapter 208, Laws of Utah 1990
37 ENACTS:
38 58-57-14, Utah Code Annotated 1953
39
40 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41 Section 1. Section 58-57-2 is amended to read:
42 58-57-2. Definitions.
43 In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102 , as used in this chapter:
44 (1) "Board" means the Respiratory Care Licensing Board created in Section 58-57-3 .
45 (2) "Health care facility" means any facility or institution in which health care services
46 are performed or furnished and includes a hospital, clinic, or emergency care center.
47 [(3) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine under Title 58, Chapter
48 67, Utah Medical Practice Act.]
49 [(4)] (3) "Practice of respiratory care":
50 (a) means the treatment, operation of equipment, management, diagnostic testing, and
51 care of any human disease, deficiency, pain, injury, or other physical condition associated with
52 the cardiopulmonary system under the qualified medical direction or supervision of a
53 [physician] practitioner who has training and knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, and
54 assessment of respiratory problems[. "Practice of respiratory care"];
55 (b) includes:
56 [(a)] (i) accepting and carrying out a [licensed physician's] practitioner's written,
57 verbal, or telephonic prescription or order specifically relating to respiratory care in a hospital
58 or other health care setting and includes consultation with licensed nurses, as appropriate;

59 [(b)] (ii) administering respiratory care during transportation of a patient and under
60 other circumstances where an emergency requires immediate respiratory care;
61 [(c)] (iii) serving as a resource to other health care professionals and hospital
62 administrators in relation to the technical aspects of, and the safe and effective methods for,
63 administering respiratory care;
64 [(d)] (iv) functioning in situations of patient contact requiring individual judgment in
65 administering respiratory care under the general supervision of a qualified [physician]
66 practitioner; and
67 [(e)] (v) supervising, directing, or teaching personnel in the performance of respiratory
68 care modalities as part of a respiratory care education program[.]; and
69 (c) does not include a person who delivers, installs, or maintains respiratory related
70 durable medical equipment and who gives instructions regarding the use of that equipment as
71 long as that person does not perform clinical evaluation or treatment of the patient.
72 (4) "Practitioner" means an individual currently licensed, registered, or otherwise
73 authorized by the appropriate jurisdiction to prescribe and administer drugs and order
74 respiratory care in the course of professional practice.
75 (5) "Respiratory care practitioner" means any person licensed to practice respiratory
76 care under this chapter.
77 (6) "Respiratory related durable medical equipment" means:
78 (a) medical grade oxygen;
79 (b) equipment and supplies related to medical gases;
80 (c) apnea monitors;
81 (d) oximeters;
82 (e) noninvasive positive pressure generators, except those with back-up respiratory rate
83 or when used invasively;
84 (f) bilirubin lights;
85 (g) suctioning equipment;
86 (h) large volume nebulizers with compressors, except when used invasively in
87 conjunction with an artificial airway;
88 (i) medication nebulizers;
89 (j) enteral nutrition equipment; and

90 (k) other respiratory related equipment intended for use in the home as defined by the
91 division by rule.
92 (7) "Unlawful conduct" is defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-57-14 .
93 [(6)] (8) "Unprofessional conduct" as defined in Section 58-1-501 and as may be
94 further defined by rule includes:
95 (a) acting contrary to the instructions of the [physician] practitioner responsible for
96 supervising the licensee;
97 (b) knowingly operating any respiratory care equipment that is unsafe or not in
98 compliance with standards of condition or operation consistent with the patient's safety;
99 (c) permitting any person to operate respiratory care equipment who is not competent
100 or not allowed to operate the equipment;
101 (d) revealing to any unauthorized person confidential or privileged information about a
102 patient;
103 (e) using any controlled substance, unless the controlled substance is prescribed by a
104 [physician] practitioner and used in accordance with the [physician's] practitioner's
105 instructions; and
106 (f) making any statement that is incorrect due to negligence, willfulness, or intent to
107 provide false information or entry on any patient record or other record that is used for payment
108 of respiratory care services.
109 Section 2. Section 58-57-4 is amended to read:
110 58-57-4. Qualifications for a license.
111 (1) The division shall issue a respiratory care practitioner license to an applicant who
112 meets the requirements specified in this section.
113 (2) An applicant seeking licensure as a respiratory care practitioner shall:
114 (a) submit an application on a form prescribed by the division;
115 (b) pay a fee as determined by the department pursuant to Section 63-38-3.2 ;
116 (c) show evidence of good moral character;
117 (d) possess a high school education or its equivalent, as determined by the division in
118 collaboration with the board;
119 (e) have completed a respiratory care practitioner educational program that is
120 [approved by the board and is] accredited by [the American Medical Association] a nationally

121 accredited organization acceptable to the division as defined by rule; and
122 (f) pass an examination approved by the division in collaboration with the board.
123 [(3) An applicant who has completed a respiratory care practitioner education program
124 approved by the board and accredited by the American Medical Association and who, in the
125 opinion of the division and board, meets the requirements for licensure except for passing the
126 examination, may practice under the direct supervision of a respiratory care practitioner with an
127 interim permit. An interim permit is valid only until the applicant receives notice of the results
128 of the examination.]
129 Section 3. Section 58-57-5 is amended to read:
130 58-57-5. Licensure by endorsement.
131 If an applicant has completed a respiratory care practitioner education program that is
132 approved by the board and accredited by [the American Medical Association] a nationally
133 accredited organization acceptable to the division, as defined by rule, the board may
134 recommend that the division issue a license without examination to any applicant currently
135 licensed by another state as a respiratory care practitioner or its equivalent, if the requirements
136 for licensing in that state are at least as stringent as the requirements under this chapter.
137 Section 4. Section 58-57-7 is amended to read:
138 58-57-7. Exemptions from licensure.
139 (1) In addition to the exemptions from licensure in Section 58-1-307 , the following
140 persons may engage in the practice of respiratory therapy subject to the stated circumstances
141 and limitations without being licensed under this chapter:
142 (a) any person who provides gratuitous care for a member of his immediate family
143 without representing himself as a licensed respiratory care practitioner;
144 (b) any person who is a licensed or qualified member of another health care profession,
145 if this practice is consistent with the accepted standards of the profession and if the person does
146 not represent himself as a respiratory care practitioner;
147 (c) any person who serves in the Armed Forces of the United States or any other
148 agency of the federal government and is engaged in the performance of his official duties; [and]
149 (d) any person who acts under a certification issued pursuant to Title 26, Chapter 8a,
150 Utah Emergency Medical Services System Act, while providing emergency medical services[.];
151 and

152 (e) any person who delivers, installs, or maintains respiratory related durable medical
153 equipment and who gives instructions regarding the use of that equipment in accordance with
154 Subsections 58-57-2 (3) and (6), except that this exemption does not include any clinical
155 evaluation or treatment of the patient.
156 (2) Nothing in this chapter permits a respiratory care practitioner to engage in the
157 unauthorized practice of other health disciplines.
158 Section 5. Section 58-57-10 is amended to read:
159 58-57-10. Use of title or designation.
160 (1) Only a respiratory care practitioner may use the following titles or designations in
161 this state:
162 (a) respiratory care practitioner;
163 (b) respiratory [care] therapist; or
164 (c) respiratory [care] technician.
165 (2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
166 Section 6. Section 58-57-11 is amended to read:
167 58-57-11. Provision for current practitioners.
168 [(1)] Any person who is [practicing as a respiratory care practitioner under the
169 supervision of a qualified physician as of July 1, 1990, shall receive a temporary license which
170 is valid until August 31, 1991, if he: (a) submits an application on which the supervising
171 physician certifies that the applicant is competent to practice as a respiratory care practitioner
172 and pays the required fee; or (b) submits evidence of having successfully completed an
173 education program approved by the division in collaboration with the board. (2) To obtain a
174 permanent license, a person practicing as a respiratory care practitioner under the supervision
175 of a qualified physician as of July 1, 1990, shall fulfill the requirements of Section 58-57-4
176 before August 1, 1991.] engaged in the practice of respiratory care as defined in Section
177 58-57-2 and who is not licensed under this chapter as a respiratory care practitioner, shall by
178 January 1, 2007, obtain a license under this chapter unless exempt from licensure under the
179 provisions of Section 58-1-307 or 58-57-7 .
180 Section 7. Section 58-57-12 is amended to read:
181 58-57-12. Independent practice prohibited.
182 A respiratory care practitioner may not:

183 (1) practice independently of a [physician] practitioner or of a health care facility while
184 under the supervision of a [physician] practitioner; or
185 (2) charge a fee for his services independently of a [physician] practitioner or health
186 care facility.
187 Section 8. Section 58-57-14 is enacted to read:
188 58-57-14. Unlawful conduct -- Penalty.
189 (1) Beginning January 1, 2007, "unlawful conduct" includes:
190 (a) using the following titles, names, or initials, if the user is not properly licensed
191 under this chapter:
192 (i) respiratory care practitioner;
193 (ii) respiratory therapist; and
194 (iii) respiratory technician; and
195 (b) using any other name, title, or initials that would cause a reasonable person to
196 believe the user is licensed under this chapter if the user is not properly licensed under this
197 chapter.
198 (2) Any person who violates the unlawful conduct provision specifically defined in
199 Subsection 58-1-501 (1)(a) is guilty of a third degree felony.
200 (3) Any person who violates any of the unlawful conduct provisions specifically
201 defined in Subsections 58-1-501 (1)(b) through (f) and Subsection (1) of this section is guilty of
202 a class A misdemeanor.
203 (4) After a proceeding pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures
204 Act, and Title 58, Chapter 1, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Act, the
205 division may assess administrative penalties for acts of unprofessional or unlawful conduct or
206 any other appropriate administrative action.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-10-06 3:14 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel