DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH [4 PA. CODE CH. 255] Solicit Comments on Changes made to the Confidentiality of Patient Records and Information [38 Pa.B. 2268]
[Saturday, May 17, 2008]The Department of Health (Department) is publishing a notice of draft final rulemaking for the draft final-form regulation at 4 Pa. Code § 255.5 (relating to projects and coordinating bodies: disclosure of client-oriented information) to solicit comment on changes made to the proposed rulemaking, which was published at 37 Pa.B. 6529 (December 15, 2007). The changes recommended to the proposed rulemaking are based on comments received during the public comment period for the proposed rulemaking, which occurred from December 15, 2007, to January 14, 2008, and comments received from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission. The changes are also based on comments received during the April 16, 2008, meeting of the Advisory Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, from whom the Department has sought written advice and consultation, and the Department's review of other related information.
Contact Person, Availability of Draft Final Rulemaking and Submission of Comments
The Department is requesting specific written comments on the draft final rulemaking for 4 Pa. Code § 255.5 sent by mail, hand-delivery or facsimile. Comments will not be accepted by e-mail, telephone or voicemail. Written comments must include the commentator's name and address. Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Direct comments to Janice Staloski, Director, Bureau of Community Program Licensure and Certification, Department of Health, 132 Kline Plaza, Suite A, Harrisburg, PA 17104-1579, fax (717) 787-3188.
A copy of the draft final rulemaking was posted in ''PDF'' format on April 25, 2008, at www.health.state.pa.us/draftregs, and will remain available through the end date for comments. For ease of review, all editing markups which may have appeared in previous documents have been removed.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is also posted to provide some answers to questions which have been presented to the Department through comments to the proposed rulemaking and in subsequent discussions. The FAQ document may be updated if additional questions are raised and the Department believes that answers may assist commenters in the submission of comments and the development of final rulemaking. Interested persons should check this web site regularly for updates.
Individuals may also request a copy of the draft final rulemaking or FAQs by contacting the Bureau of Community Program Licensure and Certification at (717) 783-8665. Persons with a disability who wish to submit comments, suggestions or objections regarding the draft final rulemaking may do so by using the previous number or address. Speech or hearing impaired persons may use V/TT (717) 783-6514 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TT). Persons who require an alternative format of this document may contact Janice Staloski so that necessary arrangements may be made.
CALVIN B. JOHNSON, M. D., M.P.H.,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-923. Filed for public inspection May 16, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]
