Washington State DOH Disciplines Health Care Providers

WA DOH Disciplinary Actions

Filed March 13th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions against several health care providers in March 2026. Actions include probation, denial of applications, and intent to issue cease-and-desist orders due to criminal convictions, unlicensed practice, and unprofessional conduct.

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What changed

The Washington State Department of Health has issued disciplinary actions against multiple healthcare providers in February and March 2026. These actions include granting applications with conditions such as probation for Kimberly Ashley Lopez (convicted of felonies including forgery and drug delivery) and Dennis Labayo Chua (pharmacy assistant and physical therapist credentials on probation). The department also charged Ruth Ann Sanders with unprofessional conduct for disclosing client information and having an inappropriate relationship with a client, and charged Kaitlin Beden with unlicensed practice of massage therapy. Traci Annette Ives's application for a home care aide credential was denied due to placement on the vulnerable adult abuse registry, and Victoria Elizabeth Neumiller was granted an agency affiliated counselor credential subject to probation following a felony drug conviction.

These actions highlight the department's enforcement of licensing standards and professional conduct for healthcare providers. Regulated entities and compliance officers should review these cases to understand the types of offenses leading to disciplinary actions, including criminal convictions, unlicensed practice, and breaches of professional boundaries. While specific compliance deadlines are not stated for these individual cases, the effective dates of the disciplinary actions and the ongoing nature of probation periods necessitate careful attention to ongoing compliance obligations for all licensed professionals in Washington State. Failure to adhere to licensing standards and professional conduct can result in license denial, probation, suspension, or revocation.

What to do next

Review disciplinary actions taken by WA DOH in February and March 2026.
Ensure all healthcare providers maintain current and appropriate credentials.
Verify adherence to professional conduct standards, including client confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.

Penalties

Probation, denial of application, intent to issue cease-and-desist order, conditions on credentials.

Source document (simplified)

State disciplines health care providers (03-13-2026)

For immediate release: March 13, 2026 (26-034)

Contact: DOH Communications
Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service 360-236-4700

Olympia -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.

The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., dentists, nursing assistants, counselors).

Information about health care providers is on the agency website. View the “ Health Care Provider Lookup ” under the “Find it Fast” section of the Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov).The site includes information about a health care provider’s license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Benton County

In February 2026 the Department of Health granted Kimberly Ashley Lopez’s (CG70011149) application for an agency affiliated counselor credential subject to conditions, including two years' probation. In July 2023, Lopez was convicted of multiple felonies, including four counts of forgery, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, and one count of burglary in the second degree.

King County

In February 2026 the Department of Health charged Kaitlin Beden with the unlicensed practice of massage therapy and notified her of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. Despite not holding a credential to practice massage therapy in Washington, Deden allegedly provided massage services through her business “Bodhi’s Path.” In November 2025, Beden acknowledged to a department investigator that she did not have a massage therapist credential.

In February 2026 the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission granted Dennis Labayo Chua’s (VB70015539) application for a pharmacy assistant credential subject to conditions, including probation. The conditions mirror a 2024 order placing Chua’s physical therapist credential on probation through at least November 1, 2029.

In February 2026 the Department of Health charged agency affiliated counselor and substance use disorder professional trainee Ruth Ann Sanders (CG61398157, CO61235226) with unprofessional conduct. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Sanders allegedly disclosed clients’ protected health information without authorization and exchanged inappropriate text messages with a client. Between December 2024 and August 2025, Sanders also allegedly provided counseling services to a client with whom she later admitted to having a personal relationship from March 2025 through August 2025, including a period when the client lived with Sanders.

Kitsap County

In November 2025 the Department of Health denied Traci Annette Ives’s (HM61515028) application for a home care aide credential. In May 2025, Ives was placed on the Department of Social and Health Services’ vulnerable adult abuse registry, which disqualifies her from working with vulnerable adults and from being certified or maintaining certification as a home care aide.

Spokane County

In January 2026 the Department of Health granted Victoria Elizabeth Neumiller’s (CG61663249) application for an agency affiliated counselor credential subject to conditions, including two years' probation. In December 2023, Neumiller was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class B felony. In April 2022, Neumiller also was convicted of first-degree criminal trespass, a gross misdemeanor.

Note to Editors: Health care providers charged with unprofessional conduct have 20 days to respond to the Department of Health in writing. The case then enters the settlement process. If no disciplinary agreement can be reached, the case will go to a hearing.

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