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Panel considers changes to death reporting system, corrections and sanctions
Summary
House Bill 1251 would change requirements for reporting and amending death records in Washington, including timelines for corrections, continuing‑education requirements for certifying physicians and potential disciplinary sanctions for repeated late reporting to the WALES system.
The House Health Care & Wellness Committee took testimony Jan. 21 on House Bill 1251, a measure that would modify how deaths are reported and corrected in Washington’s vital records system.
Committee staff described the current process and the proposed changes. "For each death in Washington, a complete report of death must be filed with a local registrar in the local health jurisdiction where the death occurred within 5 days of the death and before final disposition," said Kim Weidner, staff to the committee, summarizing existing law and the bill’s provisions.
Under HB 1251, a medical certifier, coroner, medical examiner or local health officer would be required to submit an affidavit of correction to the state registrar within five calendar days of receiving information that corrects demographic or other relevant information originally filed. The bill would also authorize state or local registrars to amend death reports to correct demographic information on application by an immediate family member within two years of a decedent's death. It would allow the medical commission to include training on entering information into the state's vital records system as part of continuing education for physicians. The bill further provides that failing to timely produce a report of death two or more times in a calendar year could be considered unprofessional conduct under the Uniform Disciplinary Act. Finally, the bill would require the Secretary of Health to work with insurance regulators and providers in bordering states to enable practitioners in those states to certify reports for Washington residents who die out of state.
Representative Sharon Wiley, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure grew out of complaints from funeral homes, mortuaries and county coroners about delays and confusion surrounding the WALES (Washington Health and Life Event System) electronic reporting system. Wiley told the committee that delays can leave mortuaries holding remains "indefinitely" and cause additional costs and heartbreak for families.
Stakeholders acknowledged concerns with the WALES system’s usability. Sean Graham, speaking for the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said physicians have reported the system can be time consuming — in some cases taking two hours to report a death — and suggested enabling designated staff to enter reports on behalf of clinicians.
The bill’s sponsor and testifying stakeholders agreed there are contested questions about who may delegate certification duties and how to streamline corrections; Wiley said the bill is intended to bring clarity and that she is open to amendments.
No committee action was taken at the hearing.
