Our June 12 public meeting is in the books. If you didn’t make it to Tumwater, here’s a quick rundown of the agenda topics you missed. You can access all the meeting materials through links in the text, or you can find materials on our website.
The State Board of Health took the following actions:
- Board members directed staff to file a CR-101 to initiate rulemaking for chapter 246-650 WAC, Newborn Screening to consider adding spinal muscular atrophy to the state’s newborn screening panel.
- Members directed staff to amend the effective date of the school health and safety rules.
- The Board approved a motion to cancel the July 10 meeting on the 2019 meeting schedule.
Briefings to the Board:
- Dr. John Thompson, director of the Newborn Screening Program at the Department of Health, joined Alexandra Montaño, Board policy advisor, to discuss the current progress of the Newborn Screening rule update that considers adding Pompe and mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) to the state’s newborn screening panel. A rules hearing is scheduled for August. More information about this rule and briefing is available on the materials web page under Tab 07.
- Megan McCrillis, a health services consultant in the Newborn Screening Program at the Department of Health, was joined by Dr. John Thompson, director of the Newborn Screening Program at the Department, and Alexandra Montaño, Board policy advisor, to present information on the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) technical advisory committee. Committee Members voted to recommend adding SMA to the state’s newborn screening list. Board Members approved their recommendations and directed staff to initiate rulemaking for chapter 246-650 WAC, Newborn Screening. More information about this rule and briefing is available on the materials web page under Tab 08.
- Michelle Weatherly, senior policy analyst at the Department of Health, joined Alexandra Montaño, Board policy advisor, to brief Board members on immunizations rulemaking activity. Staff shared updates about including required documentation of immunization status, refining the process for students who are in conditional status, updating the reference to the national immunization standards set by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, improving clarity and usability of the rule, and incorporating provisions of Engrossed House Bill 1638 that passed during the 2019 legislative session that removes the personal and philosophical exemption for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. More information about this rule and briefing is available on the materials web page under Tab 09.
- Lindsay Herendeen and Cait Lang-Perez, policy analysts for the Board, presented an update on Health Impact Reviews. A summary of the 2019 legislative session and discussion about including lived experiences as part of the review were the focus of the presentation and Board discussion. More information about Health Impact Reviews and this agenda topic is available on the materials web page under Tab 10.
Presentations to the Board
- Newborn Screening Rulemaking Update, Pompe and MPS I
- Newborn Screening, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Recommendations, Department of Health
- Immunizations Rulemaking Update
- Health Impact Reviews
The next State Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 14 at the State Capitol Campus in Olympia. Meeting materials will be posted to our website on Friday, August 9 by 5:00 p.m. Draft minutes will be posted to our website by Wednesday, August 7. Add your name to our email distribution list to get meeting notices, news and other information from the Board.
