(1) A medical assistant may be supervised by a health care practitioner through telemedicine supervision during a telemedicine visit. Tasks assigned to the medical assistant by a health care practitioner providing telemedicine supervision must fall within the medical assistant's legal scope of practice. The health care practitioner must ensure the task is delegated appropriately under RCW 18.360.060 and is consistent with the standard of care applicable for those tasks when provided in-person. Some tasks are subject to limitations as required in this chapter.

(2) A medical assistant providing direct patient care under telemedicine supervision is subject to this section only if no other health care practitioner is physically present and immediately available in the place where the medical assistant and patient are located.

(3) A medical assistant may perform the following tasks under telemedicine supervision without a health care practitioner present and immediately available during a telemedicine visit:

(a) Preparing and maintaining examination and treatment areas;

(b) Taking vital signs;

(c) Obtaining and recording patient history;

(d) Observing and reporting patients' signs or symptoms;

(e) Preparing patients for examination;

(f) Instructing patients in proper technique to collect urine or fecal specimens; and

(g) Obtaining specimens for microbiological testing.

(4) A person employed by a health care practitioner or facility is not practicing as a medical assistant as defined in this chapter if the person only performs the following tasks as part of a telemedicine visit:

(a) Maintaining medication and immunization records;

(b) Obtaining and recording patient history;

(c) Reception;

(d) Scheduling;

(e) Screening limited to intake and gathering of information; or

(f) Similar administrative tasks.