WSR 17-22-073
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed October 27, 2017, 1:12 p.m., effective January 1, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2018.
Purpose: WAC 246-490-200 will require the electronic reporting of deaths and will no longer allow submitting death reports using paper forms. The rule will affect funeral directors, health care providers, and others who certify the cause of death, as well as deputy registrars receiving death reports for filing with the department of health (department). Each will be able to complete their portion of a death report electronically through a web application. The rule will eliminate the need for funeral directors to travel to those who certify death reports and to deputy registrars in order to complete death reports, resulting in more timely submission of death reports. Electronic reporting will accelerate reporting of death data to the department and support rapid surveillance and response to communicable disease and other health threats.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-490-200.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.58.061.
Other Authority: RCW 43.70.150.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 17-16-066 on July 25, 2017.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Daniel O'Neill, P.O. Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814, phone 360-236-4311, fax 360-753-4135, TTY (360) 833-6388 or 711, email daniel.oneill@doh.wa.gov, web site 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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: October 26, 2017.
John Wiesman, DrPH, MPH
Secretary
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-490-200 Electronic reporting of deaths.
All deaths that occur in Washington state, excluding fetal deaths, must be reported electronically using the format and system prescribed by the state registrar.