The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has issued a newly revised reportable disease regulation (902 KAR 2:020) as approved today by the legislature.
This revised regulation provides immediate COVID-19 case reporting relief in the outpatient setting.
A cover letter from Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steve Stack, M.D. is available below and the letter and full regulation is available here.
Dear Kentucky Healthcare Professionals, Facilities, and Laboratories,
We have amended 902 KAR 2:020 to provide COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) clinical case reporting relief for Kentucky healthcare professionals (and facilities) in the outpatient setting. These changes are in effect immediately.
902 KAR 2:020 describes communicable disease reporting requirements for healthcare professionals and laboratories. Laboratories no longer have to report negative serology studies. SARS-CoV-2 laboratory reports must be provided for:
1) Positive and negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 viral detection using antigen or Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT), including polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
2) SARS-CoV-2 molecular sequencing; and
3) Positive test results for IgM or IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.
Additionally, healthcare provider outpatient clinical case reporting requirements have been reduced. The new regulatory language specifies that healthcare providers are required to submit a case report for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) only when:
1) A COVID-19 diagnosis of a patient for whom a laboratory report is not independently submitted;
2) A COVID-19 diagnosis of a patient is admitted to an inpatient medical facility; or
3) There is a COVID-19 associated mortality.
These changes reduce duplicative reporting for healthcare providers when testing results are separately submitted to the local health department (or KDPH) for outpatient cases of COVID-19.
We appreciate you may have questions and ask your understanding as we communicate these changes to healthcare professionals, facilities, laboratories, local health departments, trade and professional associations, and others.
Thank you for all you do in support of the people of Kentucky.
With gratitude,
Steve Stack, M.D.
