NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON RADIOLOGICAL HEALTH PROGRAM REGISTRATION, INSPECTION, & FEE FOR MEDICAL & DENTAL DEVICES IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health (DOH) proposes to (1) change regulations on the fee for Radiological Health Program; and (2) transfer specific regulations related to authority for registration and inspections for dental equipment from the Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development (DCCED) to DOH. |
The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Radiological Health Program. The Department of Health (DOH) proposes to (1) change regulations on the fee for Radiological Health Program; and (2) transfer specific regulations related to authority for registration and inspections for dental equipment from the Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development (DCCED) to DOH. The proposed changes are related to SB 173, and include the following:***
***Please Note. Details related to SB 173. Short Title: “Dentists/Dental Hygienist/Radiolog Equip”; Title: "An Act relating to the practice of dentistry; relating to dental radiological equipment; relating to the practice of dental hygiene; relating to advanced practice permits for dental hygienists; relating to dental assistants; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against a dental hygienist who holds an advanced practice permit; relating to medical assistance for dental hygiene services; and providing for an effective date." (SB 173; 32nd Legislature). The SB 173 bill was signed into law. The related details may be accessed on the Alaska State Legislature’s website at https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/32?Root=SB%20173#tab1_4 ; the PDF version of SB 173 may be accessed at https://www.akleg.gov/PDF/32/Bills/SB0173Z.PDF .***
- 7 AAC 19.Registration and Inspection of Dental Radiological Equipment, a new chapter, is proposed to be added and includes the following:
- specific regulations to be transferred from the Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development (DCCED) to DOH. The specific DCCED regulations proposed to be transferred to DOH are related to authority for registration and inspection of dental equipment;
- oone new form, titled Inspection of Dental Radiological Equipment, to be adopted by reference; and
- the Suggested State Regulations for the Control of Radiation, Part F, published by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., April 2015 edition, to be adopted by reference.
- 7 AAC 80.030. Fee schedule and procedures, is proposed to be amended as follows:
- Change how the fee is calculated for non-dental x-ray devices associated with the Department of Health’s Radiological Health Program.
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 Jayme Parker by electronic mail at doh.radiation.control@alaska.gov , or mail at the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Section of Laboratories, Radiological Health Program, 5455 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99507. The comments must be received not later than 5 p.m. on November 16, 2023.
You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action by telephone at the hearing to be held on November 14, 2023, by calling the telephone number 1-800-944-8766, and using the code 11664. There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.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 2:00 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, 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 Jayme Parker by electronic mail at
or mail at the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Section of Laboratories, Radiological Health Program, 5455 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99507. 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 Jayme Parker at doh.radiation.control@alaska.gov , or at (907) 371-1000 not later than November 2, 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 Jayme Parker at doh.radiation.control@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 371-1000.
A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System or by contacting Jayme Parker at doh.radiation.control@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 371-1000.
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 18.05.040; AS 44.29.020; AS 44.29.022.
Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 18.05.040; AS 44.29.020; AS 44.29.022.
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, Section of Laboratories, Radiological Health Program 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, Section of Laboratories, Radiological Health Program 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, Section of Laboratories, Radiological Health Program at doh.radiation.control@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: September 27, 2023.
/s/Heidi Hedberg
Commissioner,
Department of Health,
State of Alaska.