PROPOSED ORDER OF
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
TO ADOPT PERMANENT RULES
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (the “department”) proposes an order to amend s. DHS 146.04 (2) (Note), and repeal and recreate s. DHS 146.03 and (Note), relating to Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. RULE SUMMARY
Statutes interpreted
Statutory authority
Explanation of agency authority
The department is directed by s. 252.04 (1), Stats., to carry out a statewide immunization program to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases or otherwise protect people from them, and by s. 252.04 (8), Stats., to provide vaccines without charge to immunize people against those diseases, if federal or state funds are available to purchase the vaccines and if a school district or local health department requests the vaccines and the local immunization effort is supervised by a physician.
Related statute or rule
Plain language analysis
The department, through the Division of Public Health, is charged with carrying out a statewide immunization program. Essential to this charge of protecting individuals from vaccine preventable diseases is the ability to purchase vaccines, should federal or state funds be available. These vaccines are then made available, free of charge, to eligible individuals through the local health departments and tribal health clinics, as well as health care providers throughout the state who participate in the Vaccines for Children (“VFC”) Program. The proposed rule updates the list of vaccines which the Division of Public Health may make available.
No reasonable alternatives exist to the rulemaking. Without proposed revisions to Chapter DHS 146, the vaccines provided to Wisconsin local health departments and tribes, and VFC providers will be outdated and not in accordance with the latest national recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, failing to reflect current, national practices in public health and clinical medicine. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulations
Comparison with rules in adjacent states
States generally receive and distribute vaccines through the VFC Program and the utilization of Section 317 funds. The VFC Program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. CDC purchases vaccines and distributes them to grantees (i.e., state health departments and certain local and territorial public health agencies) which in turn distribute them at no charge to those private physicians’ offices and public health clinics registered as VFC providers. Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive those vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota do not have the same equivalent to Chapter DHS 146 administrative rule purchasing authority. However, there are similar provisions in the states that are relevant to the authority of those states to purchase vaccines. Illinois:
General state departments within Illinois do contain certain state healthcare purchasing functions, which would include vaccine purchasing. 15 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 16/15. Iowa:
The Iowa Department of Public Health is authorized to purchase vaccines to prepare for or to control a public health disaster. “The department may purchase and distribute antitoxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies as deemed advisable in the interest of preparing for or controlling a public health disaster.” Iowa Code Ann. § 135.142(1). Also, Iowa’s Executive Council may approve requests from the Department of Public Health to authorize payments regarding the purchase of vaccines. “The executive council shall receive requests from the Iowa department of public health relative to the purchase, storing, and distribution of vaccines and medication for prevention, prophylaxis, or treatment. Upon review and after compliance with subsection 2, the executive council may approve the request and may authorize payment of the necessary expense. The expense authorized by the executive council under this subsection shall be paid from the appropriations referred to in subsection 1.” Iowa Code Ann. § 7D.29(3). Michigan:
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services can purchase pharmaceutical products and provide to local health departments at no cost. ”The department may develop, produce, purchase, and receive by gift pharmaceutical, biologic, and diagnostic products and by-products for human, veterinary, or agricultural use. . . . The department shall provide and distribute these products and by-products at no cost upon request of local health departments, hospitals, or physicians for use within this state if considered necessary by the department to protect the public health.” Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.9111. Minnesota:
The Minnesota Department of Health has authority to purchase vaccines generally through the Commissioner of Health. “The commissioner of health, in preparation for and in carrying out the duties of sections 144.05, 144.4197, and 144.4198, may purchase, store, and distribute antituberculosis drugs, biologics, vaccines, antitoxins, serums, immunizing agents, antibiotics, antivirals, antidotes, other pharmaceutical agents, and medical supplies to treat and prevent communicable disease.” Minn. Stat. Ann. § 151.37. Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The department relied on the following sources to draft the proposed rule:
A. Pickering LK, ed. Red Book: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 30th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2015.
B. Heymann DL, ed. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual. 20th ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2015.
C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Hamborsky J, Kroger A, Wolfe S, eds. 13th ed. Washington D.C. Public Health Foundation, 2015.
