(WHTM)– While measles deaths were reported and questioned in Lancaster County in a still unresolved story, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is trying to expand its power around communicable diseases.
Agencies are expected to review and update regulations. The DOH said that is exactly what it is doing in a 500-page submission of revisions. Updated regulations still have to be approved and there will be public comment.
Some of these revisions include power surrounding what vaccines are required to attend public or private schools, and what diseases are subject to isolation.
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The DOH insists it is doing what needs to be done to keep people safe; however, some people have their doubts.
“We simply cannot have the kind of intrusive government overreach that we saw shut down businesses, take years away from kids in terms of their education and their development, basically increase our mental health issues amongst our youth, mask mandates, State Rep. Jesse Topper (R) said. “And unfortunately, the regulations proposed by the administration give that kind of broad authority back to the Department of Health.”
The DOH called the proposed changes an attempt to modernize and update regulations to better manage dangerous diseases.
There will be a public comment period that runs through September 21.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued a statement on the modernization of the regulation.
Any misconstruing of these proposed changes designed to scare Pennsylvanians is inaccurate and disingenuous. Several years ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) transparently began the process to update a 25-year-old regulation that needs to be modernized to better support evolving public health needs and manage dangerous diseases; for example, allowing information to be submitted online, removing duplicative reporting requirements for certain professions, and making simple formatting changes to improve readability and reduce confusion about reportable diseases, infections, and conditions.
Like most regulations in Pennsylvania, the Department’s proposed changes to Chapter 27 are undergoing a comprehensive review process as required by law prior to going into effect — and DOH communicated with the Legislature on these proposed changes and process prior to posting for public comment. We encourage Pennsylvanians to review the proposed regulations for themselves and participate in the regulatory process by providing feedback during the extended public comment period. The public comment period for the proposed regulations runs through September 21, 2026. DOH values and recognizes the importance of feedback from the public and welcomes comments from the public during this time. Pennsylvanians can submit comments on the proposed regulations via e-mail to the Pennsylvania Department of Health at RA-DHCHAPTR27PROPREG@pa.gov.
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