WSR 15-22-050
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed October 29, 2015, 10:20 a.m., effective November 29, 2015]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-138-030, the adopted rule updates the reference to the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, as published by the American Public Health Association, to the 20th edition. The rule now reflects national and current best practices for infectious disease control.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-138-030.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.05.180.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 15-13-088 on June 15, 2015.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 27, 2015.
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 00-01-066, filed 12/13/99, effective 1/13/00)
WAC 246-138-030 What are the duties and responsibilities of the local health department?
Local health departments, during regular hours of operation shall:
(1) Determine whether the good samaritan has sustained an exchange of bodily fluids significantly increasing the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease;
(2) Determine which certain infectious diseases or other infectious diseases are appropriate to test for, which tests should be done and when the tests should be done, based on the nature and time of the exchange of bodily fluids significantly increasing the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease and the natural history of infection for the diseases in question;
(3) Offer counseling and testing, consistent with recommendations in the ((sixteenth edition 1995 of)) Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, ((edited by Abram S. Benenson)) 20th edition, published by the American Public Health Association, for those infectious diseases to which the good samaritan is determined to have sustained an exchange of bodily fluids significantly increasing the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease;
(4) Obtain the informed consent of the good samaritan prior to testing;
(5) Provide the good samaritan with the results of the testing and the possible need for retesting;
(6) Refer the good samaritan to an appropriate health care provider for any subsequent needed care in the event of a positive test; and
(7) Maintain the confidentiality of those medical records as required by chapters 70.24 RCW and 246-100 WAC.