42 USC 300 - Epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics

Collapse to view only § 300hh-35. Epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics

§ 300hh-31. Epidemiology-laboratory capacity grants
§ 300hh-32. Enhanced support to assist health departments in addressing vector-borne diseases
§ 300hh-33. Public health data system modernization
§ 300hh-34. Genomic sequencing, analytics, and public health surveillance of pathogens program
§ 300hh-35. Epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics
§ 300hh-36. Leadership exchange pilot for public health and medical preparedness and response positions at the Department of Health and Human Services
§ 300hh-37. One Health framework

§ 300hh–31. Epidemiology-laboratory capacity grants

(a) In general

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish an Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant Program to award grants to State health departments as well as local health departments and tribal jurisdictions that meet such criteria as the Director determines appropriate. Academic centers that assist State and eligible local and tribal health departments may also be eligible for funding under this section as the Director determines appropriate. Grants shall be awarded under this section to assist public health agencies in improving surveillance for, and response to, infectious diseases and other conditions of public health importance by—

(1) strengthening epidemiologic capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of infectious diseases, including mosquito and other vector-borne diseases, and other conditions of public health importance;

(2) enhancing laboratory practice as well as systems to report test orders and results electronically;

(3) improving information systems including developing and maintaining an information exchange using national guidelines and complying with capacities and functions determined by an advisory council established and appointed by the Director; and

(4) developing and implementing prevention and control strategies.

(b) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $190,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, of which—

(1) not less than $95,000,000 shall be made available each such fiscal year for activities under paragraphs (1) and (4) of subsection (a);

(2) not less than $60,000,000 shall be made available each such fiscal year for activities under subsection (a)(3); and

(3) not less than $32,000,000 shall be made available each such fiscal year for activities under subsection (a)(2).

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2821, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title IV, § 4304, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 584; amended Pub. L. 116–22, title VI, § 607(b), June 24, 2019, 133 Stat. 960.)

§ 300hh–32. Enhanced support to assist health departments in addressing vector-borne diseases

(a) In general

(b) EligibilityTo be eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement under this section, an entity described in subsection (a) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a plan that describes—

(1) how the applicant proposes to develop or expand programs to address vector-borne disease risks, including through—

(A) related training and workforce development;

(B) programmatic efforts to improve capacity to identify, report, prevent, and respond to such disease and related outbreaks; and

(C) other relevant activities identified by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as appropriate;

(2) the manner in which the applicant will coordinate with other Federal, Tribal, and State agencies and programs, as applicable, related to vector-borne diseases, as well as other relevant public and private organizations or agencies; and

(3) the manner in which the applicant will evaluate the effectiveness of any program carried out under the cooperative agreement.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2822, as added Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 404(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3118.)

§ 300hh–33. Public health data system modernization

(a) Expanding CDC and public health department capabilities

(1) In generalThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall—

(A) conduct activities to expand, modernize, improve, and sustain applicable public health data systems used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including with respect to the interoperability and improvement of such systems (including as it relates to preparedness for, prevention and detection of, and response to public health emergencies); and

(B) award grants or cooperative agreements to State, local, Tribal, or territorial public health departments for the expansion and modernization of public health data systems, to assist public health departments and public health laboratories in—

(i) assessing current data infrastructure capabilities and gaps to—(I) improve and increase consistency in data collection, storage, and analysis; and(II) as appropriate, improve dissemination of public health-related information;

(ii) improving secure public health data collection, transmission, exchange, maintenance, and analysis, including with respect to demographic data, as appropriate;

(iii) improving the secure exchange of data between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments, public health laboratories, public health organizations, and health care providers, including by public health officials in multiple jurisdictions within such State, as appropriate, and by simplifying and supporting reporting by health care providers, as applicable, pursuant to State law, including through the use of health information technology;

(iv) enhancing the interoperability of public health data systems (including systems created or accessed by public health departments) with health information technology, including with health information technology certified under section 300jj–11(c)(5) of this title;

(v) supporting and training data systems, data science, and informatics personnel;

(vi) supporting earlier disease and health condition detection, such as through near real-time data monitoring, to support rapid public health responses;

(vii) supporting activities within the applicable jurisdiction related to the expansion and modernization of electronic case reporting; and

(viii) developing and disseminating information related to the use and importance of public health data.

(2) Data standards

(A) In general

(B) No duplicative efforts

(i) In general

(ii) Designation of standards

(3) Public-private partnerships

(b) Requirements

(1) Health information technology standards

(2) Waiver

(3) ApplicationA State, local, Tribal, or territorial health department applying for a grant or cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include information describing—

(A) the activities that will be supported by the grant or cooperative agreement; and

(B) how the modernization of the public health data systems involved will support or impact the public health infrastructure of the health department, including a description of remaining gaps, if any, and the actions needed to address such gaps.

(c) Strategy and implementation planNot later than 180 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a coordinated strategy and an accompanying implementation plan that identifies and demonstrates the measures the Secretary will utilize to—

(1) update and improve applicable public health data systems used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

(2) carry out the activities described in this section to support the improvement of State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health data systems.

(d) Consultation

(e) Report to CongressNot later than 1 year after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives that includes—

(1) a description of any barriers to—

(A) public health authorities implementing interoperable public health data systems and electronic case reporting;

(B) the exchange of information pursuant to electronic case reporting;

(C) reporting by health care providers using such public health data systems, as appropriate, and pursuant to State law; or

(D) improving demographic data collection or analysis;

(2) an assessment of the potential public health impact of implementing electronic case reporting and interoperable public health data systems; and

(3) a description of the activities carried out pursuant to this section.

(f) Electronic case reporting

(g) Authorization of appropriations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2823, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 314, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2929; amended Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2213(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5734.)

§ 300hh–34. Genomic sequencing, analytics, and public health surveillance of pathogens program

(a) Genomic sequencing, analytics, and public health surveillance of pathogens programThe Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health and heads of other departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall strengthen and expand activities related to genomic sequencing of pathogens, including through new and innovative approaches and technology for the detection, characterization, and sequencing of pathogens, analytics, and public health surveillance, including—

(1) continuing and expanding activities, which may include existing genomic sequencing activities related to advanced molecular detection, to—

(A) identify and respond to emerging infectious disease threats; and

(B) identify the potential use of genomic sequencing technologies, advanced computing, and other advanced technology to inform surveillance activities and incorporate the use of such technologies, as appropriate, into related activities;

(2) providing technical assistance and guidance to State, Tribal, local, and territorial public health departments to increase the capacity of such departments to perform genomic sequencing of pathogens, including recipients of funding under section 300hh–31 of this title;

(3) carrying out activities to enhance the capabilities of the public health workforce with respect to pathogen genomics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics, including through training; and

(4) continuing and expanding activities, as applicable, with public and private entities, including relevant departments and agencies, laboratories, academic institutions, and industry.

(b) Partnerships

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall, as appropriate, award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public health agencies for the establishment or operation of centers of excellence to promote innovation in pathogen genomics and molecular epidemiology to improve the control of and response to pathogens that may cause a public health emergency. Such centers shall, as appropriate—

(A) identify and evaluate the use of genomics, or other related technologies that may advance public health preparedness and response;

(B) improve the identification, development, and use of tools for integrating and analyzing genomic and epidemiologic data;

(C) assist with genomic surveillance of, and response to, infectious diseases, including analysis of pathogen genomic data;

(D) conduct applied research to improve public health surveillance of, and response to, infectious diseases through innovation in pathogen genomics and molecular epidemiology; and

(E) develop and provide training materials for experts in the fields of genomics, microbiology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and other fields, as appropriate.

(2) Requirements

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2824, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2212(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5733.)

§ 300hh–35. Epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics

(a) In general

(b) Considerations

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2825, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2214, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5739.)

§ 300hh–36. Leadership exchange pilot for public health and medical preparedness and response positions at the Department of Health and Human Services

(a) In general

(b) Criteria

(1) Duration

(2) Guidance

(d) Pilot period and final report

The pilot program authorized under this section shall not exceed 5 years. Not later than 90 days after the end of the program, the Secretary shall issue a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives that includes—

(1) the number of individuals who participated in such pilot, as applicable;

(2) a description of the professional growth experience in which individuals participated; and

(3) an assessment of the outcomes of such program, including a recommendation on whether such program should be continued.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2826, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2226, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5750.)

§ 300hh–37. One Health framework

(a) One Health framework

(b) One Health coordination

(Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2235, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5755.)