NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON NEWBORN BLOODSPOT SCREENING
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to change regulations on newborn bloodspot screening. |
The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with screening of newborn infants for congenital disorders, including the following:
(1) 7 AAC 27.510- .580 is proposed to be changed as follows:
- Reduce the number of required screens per infant.
- Propose that the Department pay for shipping costs related to Newborn Bloodspot Screening specimens.
- Clarify procedures for notifying the Department of screening refusals.
- Clarify procedures for completing diagnostic testing after an abnormal screening result.
- Eliminate the fee for single-card kits.
- Change the program name from Newborn Metabolic Screening to Newborn Bloodspot Screening.
- Change the title of Article from Screening of Newborn Children for Metabolic Disorders to Congenital Disorders.
(2) 7 AAC 27.530(a)(1), is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to eliminate the requirement to collect specimens on infants who die before 48 hours of life.
(3) 7 AAC 27.530(c) is proposed to be repealed. The intended effect of this repeal is to eliminate the burdensome requirement that birth providers submit weekly birth lists to the Department. The required information is obtained through an agreement with the Division of Health Analytics and Vital Records.
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 Sabra Anckner, Nurse Consultant, Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 322, Anchorage, AK 99503. Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 754-3455 and by electronic mail at sabra.anckner@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on April 3, 2018.
Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on March 16, 2018, at the Frontier Building, 3601 C Street, Suite 300 Conference Room, Anchorage, AK 99503. The hearing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 12:30 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to comment during the oral public hearing, you can call the teleconference number 1-800-897-4662 (toll free).
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Sabra Anckner by e-mail at sabra.anckner@alaska.gov or at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 322, Anchorage, AK 99503. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health & Social Services will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and agency website at http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Pages/bloodspot/default.aspx .
If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Sabra Anckner at sabra.anckner@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2295 not later than March 7, 2018, 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 Sabra Anckner at sabra.anckner@alaska.gov or at (907) 334-2295.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may be viewed at the agency's office at Women’s, Children’s, and Family Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 322, Anchorage, AK 99503.
After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health & Social Services 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 18.05.040; AS 18.15.200; AS 18.15.210; AS 44.29.020; AS 44.29.022.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 18.05.040; AS 18.15.200; AS 18.15.210; AS 44.29.020; AS 44.29.022.
Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.
DATE: February 2, 2018.
/s/Jon Sherwood
Deputy Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services