PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The amended rule: Removes the option to administer one percent silver nitrate solution into the newborn's eyes, incorporates updated treatment options, and adds language that instructs healthcare providers to document when parents/legal guardians refuse the treatment. In addition, language has been added to accommodate situations where there is a national drug shortage. In those circumstances the rule directs providers to guidance from Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-100-202.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.24.130.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 09-11-110 on June 3 [May 19], 2009.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Language has been added to accommodate situations where there is a national drug shortage.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Bat-Sheva Stein, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47880, Olympia, WA 98504-7880, phone (360) 236-3582, fax (360) 586-7868, e-mail Bat-sheva.stein@doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: July 8, 2009.
Craig McLaughlin
Executive Director
OTS-2335.3
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-11-110, filed 5/18/05,
effective 6/18/05)
WAC 246-100-202
Special diseases -- Sexually transmitted
diseases -- Duties and authorities.
(1) Health care providers
shall:
(a) Report each case of sexually transmitted disease as required in chapter 246-101 WAC; and
(b) At each medical encounter, when providing treatment for an infectious sexually transmitted disease, provide instruction, appropriate to each patient regarding:
(i) Communicability of the disease; and
(ii) Requirements to refrain from acts that may transmit the disease to another; and
(c) Ensure completion of a prenatal serologic test for syphilis in each pregnant woman pursuant to RCW 70.24.090 including:
(i) Submitting a blood sample for syphilis to a laboratory approved to perform prenatal serologic tests for syphilis, as required in RCW 70.24.090, at the time of the first prenatal visit; and
(ii) Deciding whether or not to omit the serologic test for syphilis if the test was performed elsewhere during the current pregnancy; and
(d) When diagnosing or caring for a patient with gonococcal or chlamydial ophthalmia neonatorum, reporting the case to the local health officer or local health department in accordance with the provisions of chapter 246-101 WAC; and
(e) ((When attending or assisting in the birth of any
infant or caring for an infant after birth, ensure
instillation of a department-approved prophylactic ophthalmic
agent into the conjunctival sacs of the infant within the time
frame established by the department in policy statement of
ophthalmia agents approved for the prevention of ophthalmia
neonatorum in the newborn, issued June 19, 1981.)) Instill a
prophylactic ophthalmic agent into both eyes of the newborn as
prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum up to two hours
after the delivery, whether the delivery occurred vaginally or
by Cesarean section. Acceptable ophthalmic prophylactic
agents are application of erythromycin or tetracycline. In
the event the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declares a
shortage of these prophylactic ophthalmic agents health care
providers may substitute alternative prophylactic ophthalmic
agents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. If the newborn's parent(s) or legal guardian
refuses this procedure, the health care provider will document
the refusal in the newborn's medical record.
(2) Laboratories, health care providers, and other persons shall deny issuance of a certificate or statement implying an individual is free from sexually transmitted disease.
(3) State and local health officers or their authorized representatives shall have authority to conduct or cause to be conducted an interview and investigation of persons infected or reasonably believed to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
(a) For the purpose of this section, "reasonable belief" and "reasonably believed" shall mean a health officer's belief based upon a credible report from an identifiable individual indicating another person is likely to have a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or to have been exposed to a STD;
(b) Investigations shall be conducted using procedures and measures described in WAC 246-100-036(4).
(4) Local health officers, health care providers, and others shall comply with the provisions in chapter 70.24 RCW, in addition to requirements in chapters 246-100 and 246-101 WAC.
(5) Any person who violates a rule adopted by the board for the control and treatment of a sexually transmitted disease is subject to penalty under RCW 70.24.080.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.24.130 and 70.24.380. 05-11-110, § 246-100-202, filed 5/18/05, effective 6/18/05.]