Solicitation for Public Input – Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services, Health Facilities Licensing & Certification Program, Regulatory Revisions.

Notice of Public Scoping Under Administrative Order 360 for possible amendments to the Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services’ Health Facilities Licensing and Certification Program Regulations, Title 7 Health and Social Services, Chapter 12, Facilities and Local Units.

Background. In response to Administrative Order 360, the Department of Health is soliciting written and oral comments from affected industries, community organizations, and the general public regarding regulations and materials incorporated by reference in 7 AAC 12.100 – 7 AAC 12.990 and 7 AAC 50.800 – 7 AAC 50.990.

The Department of Health is undertaking this solicitation process to ask the public for ideas, suggestions, and input before drafting or proposing any specific regulation amendments or repeals for public review.

The Department of Health is particularly interested in specific ideas for regulatory change that may:

• clarify existing regulatory obligations;
• reduce costs for the public, industry, or government;
• improve or streamline procedures, application requirements, and review processes, for example reducing the time required to apply for a license, permit, or benefit;
• reduce administrative burdens;
• streamline permitting procedures;
• improve communication procedures;
• provide greater transparency with respect to standards, decision-making, and rationales for application processing; or
• clarify interagency roles.

Written comments. Written comments must be received by November 7, 2025. Written comments may be sent to susan.dunkin@alaska.gov .

Public meeting. Oral comments may be submitted via an online and telephonic hearing to be held on October 29, 2025. To participate, log on to Zoom at

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82995048898?pwd=fAptufG5Yic9nrDYEqAH6DheUd1A4d.1 or call 1-888-475-4499, Meeting ID 829 9504 8898, Passcode 143202. 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 3:00 p.m. and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended for up to one hour to accommodate those on the line before 2:45 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, the 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.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Susan Miller Dunkin at susan.dunkin@alaska.gov or 907-310-2769 not later than October 22, 2025, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

Please note that input provided in response to this solicitation will be subject to inspection, copying, and distribution as public records under AS 40.25.110 – 40.25.220.  Please do not include any confidential information in written or oral comments.

Questions. For questions or more information, contact our Agency Regulatory Liaison, Triptaa Surve at triptaa.surve@alaska.gov .

The Department of Health is not currently proposing any specific regulation change and there are no draft regulations prepared for public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act at this time. If the Department of Health undertakes revisions to these regulations, there will be an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed regulation changes that are released for public review and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Department of Health, Division of Health Care 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 Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services’ notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health, Division of Health Care Services at susan.dunkin@alaskag.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Individuals can also sign up 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.