View all text of Part C [§ 300hh-31 - § 300hh-37]
§ 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
(C) Privacy and security
(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.)