NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON REPORTABLE CONDITIONS & PERMITTED DISCLOSURES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with reportable conditions and permitted disclosures, including the following:***

• 7 AAC 27.005. Reporting by health care providers, 7 AAC 27.007. Reporting by laboratories, 7 AAC 27.011. Reporting of cancer and brain tumors, and 7 AAC 27.014. Reporting of blood lead test results, are proposed to be changed as follows:
  • Update the reportable conditions list to reflect emerging, changing, or obsolete health conditions under routine surveillance. Alaska Statute, AS 18.15.370, requires the department to maintain and periodically update the list of reportable conditions.

     

• 7 AAC 27.893. Permitted disclosures, is proposed to be changed as follows:

• Add a new paragraph related to the requirements for an institutional review board approval.

***Please Note: The department is required by statute (AS 18.15.370) to regularly maintain a list of reportable diseases or other conditions of public health importance, and may revise that list as needed. The Alaska Statutes, AS 18.15.370. Reportable disease list, states that “The department shall maintain a list of reportable diseases or other conditions of public health importance that must be reported to the department. The list may include birth defects, cancers, injuries, and diseases or other conditions caused by exposure to microorganisms; pathogens; or environmental, toxic, or other hazardous substances. The department shall regularly maintain and may revise the list. The department may also establish registries for diseases and conditions that must be reported to the department.” Website link for AK Statutes https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#18.15.370 .***

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Dr. Louisa Castrodale by electronic mail at louisa.castrodale@alaska.gov , or mail at the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Suite 540, Attention: Dr. Louisa Castrodale, Anchorage, AK 99503. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on June 28, 2023.

You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on June 23, 2023, by calling telephone number 1-888-392-4560, and using the participant access code number 4850502#. Please note that in-person attendance will not be provided at the hearing site. Please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 10:30 a.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the Department of Health may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Dr. Louisa Castrodale by electronic mail at louisa.castrodale@alaska.gov , or mail at the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Suite 540, Attention: Dr. Louisa Castrodale, Anchorage, AK 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Dr. Louisa Castrodale by electronic mail at louisa.castrodale@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-8002 not later than June 16, 2023, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System

and by contacting Dr. Louisa Castrodale by electronic mail at louisa.castrodale@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 269-8002.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 18.05.010; AS 18.05.030; AS 18.05.040; AS 18.05.042; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360; AS 18.15.362; AS 18.15.370.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 18.05.010; AS 18.05.030; AS 18.05.040; AS 18.05.042; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360; AS 18.15.362; AS 18.15.370.

Fiscal information (in thousands of dollars): The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Health, Division of Public Health, keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, by electronic mail at louisa.castrodale@alaska.gov giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Individuals can also signup to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.

DATE: May 4, 2023.

/s/Heidi Hedberg

Commissioner,

Department of Health

State of Alaska.