FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar. 22, 2005
Contact:
Jeff Kasper, (907) 465-8194, cell 321-3158
Public comment sought for informed consent Web site
( Juneau, Alaska) — The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health announced today that the regulations for the Web site required by Conference Committee Substitute Senate Bill 30 (CCS SB30) are now available for public comment. CCS Senate Bill 30, passed by the 23rd Alaska State Legislature, outlines requirements for DHSS to create a Web site that provides scientific and resource information regarding pregnancy and pregnancy alternatives, and also provides a form for reporting informed consent and review of the information.
Beginning today, draft regulations for the informed consent Web site will be available for review and comment on the DHSS Web site at: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/publicnotice/regulations.cfm. The preliminary Informed Consent Web site content can be viewed at: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/wcfh/informedconsent/ .
Comments on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, can be submitted in writing to Stephanie Birch, Women’s, Children’s and Family Health Section Chief, Department of Health and Social Services, 4501 Business Park Blvd. Suite 24, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone: (907) 334-2424. Comments can also be made by e-mail at stephanie_birch@health.state.ak.us, or by facsimile at (907) 269-3465. The comments must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on April 25, 2005. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.
Oral or written comments may also be submitted at a hearing to be held on April 15, 2005, at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO), 716 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200, Anchorage , Alaska . Interested parties may also participate in the hearing by calling 1-800-395-5073. The hearing will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Until the Web site is available, providers should continue to meet the requirements of AS 18.50.245 and submit to the state registrar the required information related to the induced termination of pregnancy on the present form. Once new regulations are approved and the Web site is operational, a new form will be available for physicians to report the additional information.
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