Missoula County opposes HB 564, Revise medical exemption laws on immunizations, up for hearing Monday in the Judiciary Committee. DPHHS and local health departments need to be able to review medical exemptions; this is a public health matter. Limiting what records could be reviewed would hinder public health officials’ ability to investigate and control contagious disease cases and outbreaks, as required by current communicable disease laws. Health departments provide schools with guidance to help determine an exemption’s validity. This is simply for the student’s health and safety, and personal health information is redacted when records are shared to maintain confidentiality. Schools do not typically have qualified medical providers on staff, and the school secretary is often left with this responsibility. In some instances, inappropriate and invalid exemptions have been written because the family didn’t want their child vaccinated, not because the child had a medical condition that kept them from being vaccinated. The current exemption form is easy to use and makes it clear when a medical exemption exists, and current law already allows for a written statement from a medical provider in lieu of the form, as long as certain requirements are met.
Missoula County opposes HB 564, Revise medical exemption laws on immunizations, on the House floor tomorrow morning. DPHHS and local health departments need to be able to review medical exemptions; this is a public health matter. Limiting what records could be reviewed would hinder public health officials’ ability to investigate and control contagious disease cases and outbreaks, as required by current communicable disease laws. Health departments provide schools with guidance to help determine an exemption’s validity. This is simply for the student’s health and safety, and personal health information is redacted when records are shared to maintain confidentiality. Schools do not typically have qualified medical providers on staff, and the school secretary is often left with this responsibility. In some instances, inappropriate and invalid exemptions have been written because the family didn’t want their child vaccinated, not because the child had a medical condition that kept them from being vaccinated. The current exemption form is easy to use and makes it clear when a medical exemption exists, and current law already allows for a written statement from a medical provider in lieu of the form, as long as certain requirements are met.
Representatives Morigeau and Keogh,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 564, Revise medical exemption laws on immunizations, up for hearing Monday in the Judiciary Committee. DPHHS and local health departments need to be able to review medical exemptions; this is a public health matter. Limiting what records could be reviewed would hinder public health officials’ ability to investigate and control contagious disease cases and outbreaks, as required by current communicable disease laws.
Health departments provide schools with guidance to help determine an exemption’s validity. This is simply for the student’s health and safety, and personal health information is redacted when records are shared to maintain confidentiality. Schools do not typically have qualified medical providers on staff, and the school secretary is often left with this responsibility. In some instances, inappropriate and invalid exemptions have been written because the family didn’t want their child vaccinated, not because the child had a medical condition that kept them from being vaccinated. The current exemption form is easy to use and makes it clear when a medical exemption exists, and current law already allows for a written statement from a medical provider in lieu of the form, as long as certain requirements are met.
Please oppose HB 564.
Sent 2/27:
ReplyDeleteRepresentatives,
Missoula County opposes HB 564, Revise medical exemption laws on immunizations, on the House floor tomorrow morning. DPHHS and local health departments need to be able to review medical exemptions; this is a public health matter. Limiting what records could be reviewed would hinder public health officials’ ability to investigate and control contagious disease cases and outbreaks, as required by current communicable disease laws. Health departments provide schools with guidance to help determine an exemption’s validity. This is simply for the student’s health and safety, and personal health information is redacted when records are shared to maintain confidentiality. Schools do not typically have qualified medical providers on staff, and the school secretary is often left with this responsibility. In some instances, inappropriate and invalid exemptions have been written because the family didn’t want their child vaccinated, not because the child had a medical condition that kept them from being vaccinated. The current exemption form is easy to use and makes it clear when a medical exemption exists, and current law already allows for a written statement from a medical provider in lieu of the form, as long as certain requirements are met.
Please oppose HB 564.