NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON TUBERCULOSIS (TB) SCREENING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

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 preventive medical services, specifically, tuberculosis (TB) screening of school children, including the following:

• 7 AAC 27.213. Preventive Medical Services. Tuberculosis screening of school children, is proposed to be repealed.
  • The intended effect of this repeal is to
    • comply with national guidelines;
    • align with best practices for pediatric health screening; and
    • increase efficacy of limited public health resources by eliminating routine TB screening of school children.

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 the State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Attn: Michelle M. Rothoff, M.D., 3601 C Street, Suite 540, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5932. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 562-7802 and by electronic mail at michelle.rothoff@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on December 27, 2021.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Dr. Michelle M. Rothoff by e-mail at

michelle.rothoff@alaska.gov or mail at State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Attn: Michelle M. Rothoff, M.D., 3601 C Street, Suite 540, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5932. 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.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Dr. Michelle M. Rothoff by electronic mail at michelle.rothoff@alaska.gov or phone at (907) 269-8000 not later than December 14, 2021, 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. Michelle M. Rothoff at michelle.rothoff@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 269-8000.

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 14.30.045; AS 14.30.065; AS 18.05.040; AS 44.29.020.

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 14.30.045; AS 14.30.065; AS 18.05.040; AS 44.29.020.

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

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

DATE: November 8, 2021.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services
State of Alaska.