Here's how the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration will impact volunteer health practitioners

On September 8, 2022 Governor Inslee announced that all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations and the related state of emergency will end by October 31, 2022. Emergency volunteer practice under RCW 70.15 will end on October 31, 2022 when the COVID-19 State of Emergency ends.

For emergency volunteers, this means that the following will no longer apply:

• Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioner Act, Chapter 70.15 RCW, which authorizes the use of volunteer health practitioners who are licensed in this state or in others to respond to a Governor-proclaimed emergency and provides liability protections for those registered and activated as emergency volunteer health care providers.
• Liability protections for Community Health Volunteers under chapter 38.52.180 RCW when responding to a disaster. (Note that this does not apply to Medical Reserve Corps volunteers.)

What this means for certain groups of volunteers and recommended next steps:

Non-medical Community Health Volunteers must discontinue COVID-19 emergency volunteer activities by October 31, 2022, as they will no longer have liability protections after this date. DOH will deactivate volunteer non-medical Community Health profiles.

Health Practitioner Volunteers with Active In-state Licenses must discontinue COVID-19 emergency volunteer activities by October 31, 2022. DOH will deactivate volunteer Health Practitioners with active in-state licenses profiles. They must continue to follow all rules and regulations that apply to their work and licensure.

Out-of-state Health Practitioner Volunteers must discontinue COVID-19 emergency volunteer activities by October 31, 2022. DOH will deactivate out-of-state Health Practitioner volunteer profiles.

No action is required if they do not wish to continue practicing in Washington state. If they do wish to continue practicing in Washington state, they will need a professional Washington state license.

• Nurses: Online Application Portal for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and nursing technicians.
  • Applications are reviewed and processed in order of date received, and processing cannot be expedited.
  • When all application requirements are met, a temporary practice permit is typically issued in 7-9 calendar days. Applications missing requirements may take additional time to review and process.
  • To avoid a lapse in practice we encourage them to submit your application for a Washington state license as early as possible.
• Non-nursing health care practitioners: see the licensing page for your profession for details on how to apply.

Health Care Organizations and Facilities must discontinue any related COVID-19 emergency volunteer activities by October 31, 2022. They may continue working with volunteers after October 31, 2022, so long as

a) volunteers are properly licensed to practice in Washington state,

b) replacement of liability coverage previously provided under RCW 70.15, and

c) it is understood that DOH, WAserv, and the Volunteer Management program no longer have any responsibility for volunteers after October 31, 2022.

Please share this information with any volunteers you have worked with as part of this emergency response.