SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

The Department of Health & Social Services proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with emergency medical services, including the following:

• 7 AAC 26.020-.999 is proposed to be changed as follows:
  • Update requirements for emergency medical services (EMS), instructors, staff, applications, training, examinations, certification, recertification, and reciprocity of personnel.
  • Add Emergency Medical Technician – Advanced provider level, EMS scope of medical practice.
  • Repeal and replace obsolete requirements and terminology.

This is a SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE adding to the NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES that was issued on April 3, 2018, concerning these proposed regulation revisions contained in the Department of Law file number 2017200794. This SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is being issued because the Department of Health & Social Services has decided to extend the public comment period through December 5, 2018, to allow the public to review the Department’s amendments to the proposed regulations and the adopted by reference documents.

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 Ronald W. Quinsey, Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Rural and Community Health Systems, Office of Emergency Medical Services, P.O. Box 110616, Juneau, AK 99811-0616.  Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-4101 and by electronic mail at EMSRegulationResponse@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on December 5, 2018.

Oral or written comments also may be submitted at a hearing to be held on November 13, 2018, at room number 115, 350 Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801. The hearing will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and might be extended to accommodate those present before 11 a.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 at 1- 800-944-8766 (toll free), code #83001.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Mr. Ronald W. Quinsey, by e-mail at EMSRegulationResponse@alaska.gov or at the Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Rural and Community Health Systems, Office of Emergency Medical Services, 350 Main Street, Suite 530, Juneau, AK 99811-0616.  The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health and 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 http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Emergency/Pages/ems/default.aspx .

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Persephone Bodine, by e-mail at persephone.bodine@alaska.gov, or at telephone number (907)465-3140 not later than November 6, 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 Ronald W. Quinsey, by e-mail at ron.quinsey@alaska.gov or by telephone at (907) 465-8508.

A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may also be viewed at the agency's office at Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Rural and Community Health Systems, Office of Emergency Medical Services, 350 Main Street, Suite 530, Juneau, AK 99811-0616.

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 09.65.090; AS 17.22.010; AS 17.22.020; AS 17.22.040; AS 17.22.090; AS 18.08.010; AS 18.08.015; AS 18.08.080; AS 18.08.082; AS 18.08.084; AS 47.05.012.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 09.65.090; AS 17.22.010; AS 17.22.020; AS 17.22.040; AS 17.22.090; AS 18.08.010; AS 18.08.015; AS 18.08.080; AS 18.08.082; AS 18.08.084; AS 47.05.012.

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.