WSR 14-16-094

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed August 5, 2014, 2:26 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-455 WAC, Hospital patient discharge information, amending and creating new rules to strengthen protections of patient health care information.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: ESSB 6265 (chapter 220, Laws of 2014), RCW 43.70.052.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: ESSB 6265 passed in 2014 increasing standards on sharing of patient information from the comprehensive hospital abstract reporting system and authorizing the department to adopt rules. Rules are necessary to further define direct and indirect patient identifiers and public data sets, clarify restrictions on use of the data, add requirements for data sharing agreements, and update or add definitions if needed. The rule may also include housekeeping changes, such as updating references.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by e-mailing or mailing comments and attending rule workshop(s). To receive information and updates, e-mail vitalrecordsrules@doh.wa.gov, mail Attn: CHARS Rules, P.O. Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814, or contact Kris Reichl at (360) 236-4311.

August 5, 2014

Dennis E. Worsham

Deputy Secretary

for John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH

Secretary