NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON PERMITTED DISCLOSURES
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS) proposes to change regulations on permitted disclosures. |
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, permitted disclosures, including the following:
- 7 AAC 27.893. Permitted disclosures, is proposed to be changed as follows: Amend to
- Allow the department to disclose the minimum necessary health information permitted by law and for the purpose of conducting the department’s own public health surveillance, investigation, prevention, and treatment.
- Align state law with the standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (“HIPAA”).
- Allow the department to continue to share data on a geographical scale that was not previously allowed. This will (1) include the data on the State of Alaska COVID-19 Dashboard; and (2) enable state, local, and tribal leadership to make important decisions related to the spread of infectious disease in their communities.
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, Attn: Ms. Christy Lawton, 3601 C Street, Suite 756, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5932. Additionally, the Department of Health & Social Services will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-4632
and by electronic mail at christy.lawton@alaska.gov . The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on June 8, 2022.
You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Ms. Christy Lawton by e-mail at christy.lawton@alaska.gov or mail at State of Alaska, Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Attention: Ms. Christy Lawton, 3601 C Street, Suite 756, 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 Ms. Christy Lawton by electronic mail at christy.lawton@alaska.gov or phone at (907) 334-2687 not later than May 24, 2022, 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 Ms. Christy Lawton by electronic mail at christy.lawton@alaska.gov or phone at (907) 334-2687.
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 18.05.030; AS 18.05.040; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360; AS 18.15.362.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 18.05.030; AS 18.05.040; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360; AS 18.15.362.
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 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 christy.lawton@alaska.gov , giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.
DATE: May 2, 2022.
/s/Adam Crum
Commissioner,
Department of Health & Social Services
State of Alaska.