Rule-Making Activities

Vital Records – Registration, Amendment, and Certification Updates

On January 27, 2023, the Department filed WSR 23-04-062, a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, to consider adopting new rules and amending existing rules regarding vital records. Between 2018 and 2021, the state legislature amended the Uniform Parentage Act, replaced the vital statistics statute, and added a certification of birth resulting in stillbirth. Each statutory change affected program practices and products. The department is considering updating rule to reflect these process changes.

In addition to statutory changes, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards for birth and fetal death record items changed significantly in 2014. The department is considering aligning the statistical items collected through vital records with the new NCHS standards.

Changes considered during this rulemaking may:

  • Establish registration and amendment requirements for vital records.
  • Update or add program processes.
  • Adopt fees associated with amendment and delayed birth applications.
  • Adopt or adjust fees associated with the issuance of certifications and informational copies.
  • Add or remove data items collected in a vital record.
  • Expand use of electronic registration of a vital event.
  • Make editorial and technical changes to align with statutory changes.
  • Repeal obsolete sections of rule.

Activity

Planned Completion Date

Actual Completion Date

File CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry

02/01/2023

01/27/2023

Notify interested parties of rule making

02/10/2023

 

Gather informal comments on draft rule

10/13/2023

 

Assess informal comments, revise draft rule if necessary, and prepare analyses

10/20/2023

 

File CR 102, Proposed Rule Making    

01/16/2024

 

Notify interested parties of opportunity to comment on proposed rule

01/25/2024

 

Public Hearing    

02/24/2024

 

Assess formal comments and revise rule if necessary

03/03/2024

 

File CR 103

03/26/2024

 

Respond to formal comments and notify stakeholders of effective date of adopted rule

04/04/2024

 

Rule Effective

01/02/2025

 

To receive rule making notices by email and for any questions about this rule making activity, contact VitalRecordsRules@doh.wa.gov.


Hospital Patient Discharge Information Reporting (CHARS) Rulemaking

On June 22, the Department of Health filed the Rule-making Order to adopt proposed changes to chapter 246-455 WAC, Hospital patient discharge information reporting, under Washington State Register 22-13-187. The adopted rule:

  • Prescribes new patient demographic information reported by hospitals
  • Establishes a waiver process
  • Strengthens protections of patient health care information to align with federal law changes
  • Clarifies and adds requirements for data collection and reporting
  • Prescribes the direct and indirect patient identifiers
  • Formalizes the procedure for requesting patient discharge data
  • Updates and adds definitions
  • Makes technical updates
  • Repeals an obsolete section of rule
  • Establishes fees for data files and data requests

The adopted rule differs from the proposed rule. WAC 246-455-025 of the rule includes non-substantive changes for clarity.

WAC 246-455-035 will become effective on October 1, 2022, for eligible hospitals to apply for a waiver in accordance with Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1272. The remaining rules will become effective on January 1, 2023.

For questions about implementation of the rule, email CHARSgeneral@doh.wa.gov.

For questions about the rule-making process, email Katitza.Holthaus@doh.wa.gov.  

Notice: Any person may petition the adoption, amendment, or repeal of any rule under RCW 34.05.330

Activity Planned Completion Date Actual Completion Date
File CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry 7/7/2021 6/18/2021
Notify interested parties of rule making 7/9/2021 6/28/2021
Hold listening sessions 9/30/2021 11/18/2021
Gather informal comments on draft rule 10/29/2021 12/24/2021
Assess informal comments, revise draft rule if necessary, and prepare analyses 12/31/2021 3/4/2021
File CR 102, Proposed Rule Making
(revised target completion date)
2/16/2022
(4/20/2022)
4/19/2022
Notify interested parties of opportunity to comment on proposed rule
(revised target completion date)
2/18/2022
(4/22/2022)
4/22/2022
Public Hearing
(revised target completion date)
3/31/2022
(5/24/2022)
5/24/2022
Assess formal comments and revise rule if necessary
(revised target completion date)
5/6/2022
(5/30/2022)
5/30/2022
File CR 103 7/1/2022 6/22/2022
Respond to formal comments and notify stakeholders of effective date of adopted rule 7/1/2022 7/1/2022
Rule Effective 1/1/2023 1/1/2023

To receive rule making notices by email and for any questions about this rule making activity, contact Katitza.Holthaus@doh.wa.gov.