PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-101 WAC, relating to reporting of communicable diseases and animal bites, excluding WAC 246-101-520 Special conditions -- AIDS and HIV and 246-101-635 Special conditions -- AIDS and HIV.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 43.20.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Since the rule was last revised on January 11, 2005, there are a number of changes and developments in notifiable conditions reporting that should be addressed including: Identification of new conditions, national or international requirements, new laboratory methods, and improvements in reporting technologies. There is also a need to address current rule language that is unclear or incomplete. In addition, an emergency rule adopted on June 11, 2009, for the provisional reporting of novel influenza A (H1N1) for hospitalized patients or death will be reviewed for permanent notification.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state or federal agency has rules that regulate this subject. However, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention periodically issues recommendations and guidance for notifiable infectious disease reporting.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making. The state board of health and the department of health will work together and consult with interested public and private groups, associations, and others to develop the proposed rule. Stakeholder input will be solicited prior to the official rules hearing. The department of health will establish an ad hoc expert panel that will include internal/external stakeholders consisting of representatives from local health jurisdictions, health care providers, laboratories, and other interested parties to review and finalize the recommended changes to the rule.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tracy Sandifer, Epidemiologist, Department of Health, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section, 1610 N.E. 150th Street, Mailstop K17-9, Shoreline, WA 98155, phone (206) 418-5558, fax (206) 418-5515, e-mail tracy.sandifer@doh.wa.gov or Tara Wolff, Health Policy Analyst, Washington State Board of Health, 101 Israel Road S.E., Mailstop 47990, Tumwater, WA 98501, phone (360) 236-4101, fax (360) 236-4088, e-mail tara.wolff@doh.wa.gov.
August 20, 2009
Craig McLaughlin
Executive Director