NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON HEALTH CARE FACILITY DISCHARGE DATA REPORTING.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON HEALTH CARE FACILITY DISCHARGE DATA REPORTING IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. BRIEF DESCRIPTION The Department of Health proposes to change regulations on health care facility discharge data reporting requirements. Summary of proposed changes: The Department of Health proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 7 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with health care facility discharge data reporting requirements. The proposed changes include the following: • 7 AAC 27.660.Reporting of discharge data; noncompliance, and 7 AAC 150.250. Inpatient prospective payment based on Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG), are proposed to be changed as follows: • Amend 7 AAC 27.660(b) and 7 AAC 150.250(a)(8) to incorporate by reference Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting Program Guidelines. Written comments: You may comment on the regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the changes, by submitting written comments to Abigail Newby-Kew, Ph.D., State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0675. Additionally, the Department of Health will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 465-3618 and by electronic mail at doh.havrs.info@alaska.gov . Written comment deadline: The written comments must be received not later than 5:00 p.m. on November 4, 2026. Oral hearing: You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on October 27, 2026, by calling telephone number 1-888-392-4560 (US Toll-free), and using the passcode code number 97730062#. There will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only. The hearing is scheduled from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 12:30 p.m. who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, Department of Health may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided. Questions: You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Abigail Newby-Kew, Ph.D., Department of Health, Division of Public Health, by electronic mail at doh.havrs.info@alaska.gov , or at the State of Alaska, Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records, P.O. Box 110675, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0675. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Health will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System. Public nature of comments and questions: Public comments and questions, once submitted, are public records and subject to disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act. See AS 40.25.100 - 40.25.295. Do NOT include in your comments or questions any information that you do not want made public. Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Abigail Newby-Kew, Ph.D., by electronic mail at doh.havrs.info@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 465-8643 not later than October 20, 2026, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided. Obtaining copies of proposed regulations: A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Abigail Newby-Kew, Ph.D., by electronic mail at doh.havrs.info@alaska.gov , or by telephone at (907) 465-8643. A copy of material proposed for adoption by reference may be viewed on the agency's website, https://health.alaska.gov/en/division-of-public-health/health-analytics-vital-records/health-facilities-data-reporting/ . Final version of regulations: After the public comment period ends, the Department of Health will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Statutory authority: AS 18.05.040; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360. Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 18.05.040; AS 18.15.355; AS 18.15.360. Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation. How to receive further notices: The Department of Health, Division of Public Health, keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the Department of Health, Division of Public Health to doh.havrs.info@alaska.gov giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices. Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx. DATE: September 11, 2026. /s/Heidi Hedberg, Commissioner, Department of Health, State of Alaska.