New reg for Wednesday: HHS delays communicable diseases rule

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains decision from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to delay a rule it published just before President Trump’s inauguration. 

What’s happening: 

Communicable diseases: The HHS is delaying its rule to improve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ability to protect against the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable diseases like Ebola and the Zika virus.

The rule, finalized on Jan. 19, sets a 72-hour limit for how long a person can be held without a federal order for isolation or quarantine. It also provides due process protections for people who are subject to public health orders, including a right to counsel for indigent individuals.

CDC under the rule must advise individuals who are subject to medical examinations that the examinations will be conducted by an authorized health worker and with prior informed consent.

The rule set to take effect on Feb. 21 is now delayed until Mach 21. HHS said it’s following the Trump administration’s order to freeze all regulatory actions.

Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus issued a memo after the inauguration telling federal agencies to not issue any more regulations.

Agency heads were advised to delay the effective date of rules that had already been published for at least another 60 days.