S. 2942 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2942 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 19, 2014 Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish a Hospital Fund for the treatment of individuals with Ebola or other specified infectious diseases. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Infectious Disease Hospital Hubs Act. 2. Public Health and Social Services Emergency fund Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 319C–2 the following: 319C–3. Treatment of individuals with Ebola or other infectious diseases (a) In general If the Secretary determines that there is an emergency, or significant potential for an emergency, that involves a specific infectious disease, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate public health officials, may award grants under subsection (b) to prepare for such emergency or potential emergency and grants to provide compensatory awards under subsection (c), as may be appropriate. (b) Grants for surge capacity and To enhance community and hospital preparedness (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to States to enable such States to improve surge capacity and enhance community and hospital preparedness for an emergency involving a specified infectious disease. (2) Eligibility To be eligible for an award under this subsection, a State shall— (A) designate, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lead health officials of the State, one or more hospitals that volunteer to treat individuals with a specified infectious disease; and (B) submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that the State will adhere to any applicable guidelines established by the Secretary. (3) Use of funds An award under this subsection shall be expended for any of the following activities needed to treat individuals with a specified infectious disease: (A) Renovating, constructing, or retrofitting a hospital or building. (B) Purchasing mobile specialized infectious disease isolation units and equipment. (C) Acquiring personal protective equipment to be used by health care workers during management of patients. (D) Hiring additional staff as necessary to replace staff assigned to treat individuals with a specified infectious disease. (E) Overtime of existing staff for treatment of individuals with a specified infectious disease. (F) Handling, transporting, and disposing of waste related to the specialized treatment of a specified infectious disease. (G) Covering direct and indirect costs associated with treatment of a specified infectious disease. (H) Training health care professionals and other hospital staff, as appropriate, regarding— (i) procedures and protocols with respect to a specified infectious disease; (ii) appropriate use of personal protective equipment; (iii) screening questions, triage techniques, and health information technology related to an infectious disease, such as Ebola; (iv) identification, testing, and specimen collection and transport procedures with respect to a specified infectious disease; (v) isolation and quarantine procedures; (vi) cleaning and disinfection protocols; (vii) handling, transporting, and disposing of waste related to the specialized treatment of a specified infectious disease; or (viii) handling of human remains of patients with a specified infectious disease. (4) Technical assistance The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, or other heads of agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, may provide to States awarded grants under this subsection technical assistance on— (A) procedures and protocols with respect to a specified infectious disease; (B) appropriate use of personal protective equipment; (C) screening questions, triage techniques, and health information technology related to an infectious disease, such as Ebola; (D) identification, testing, and specimen collection and transport procedures with respect to a specified infectious disease; (E) isolation and quarantine procedures; (F) cleaning and disinfection protocols; (G) handling, transport, and disposal of waste related to the specialized treatment of a specified infectious disease; or (H) handling of human remains of patients with a specified infectious disease. (c) Grants for distribution of compensatory awards (1) In general The Secretary may award additional grants to States that receive a grant under subsection (b) for the purpose of distributing compensatory awards to any hospital within the State that has been designated under subsection (b)(2)(A) and has treated an individual with a specified infectious disease. (2) Use of funds A grant awarded under this subsection shall be distributed to any hospital described in paragraph (1) in order to compensate such hospital for— (A) documented costs associated with the specialized treatment of an individual with a specified infectious disease, except such compensation may not be provided for the cost of any treatment, payment for which has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, under any State compensation program, under an insurance policy, under any Federal or State health benefits program, or by an entity that provides health services on prepaid basis; or (B) damages for lost business activity or lost services directly attributable to the specialized treatment of a specific infectious disease, provided that such damages are supported by a reasonably accurate measurement or estimate, including appropriate documentation supporting the claim. (d) Definitions In this section— (1) the term infectious disease means a disease that the Secretary determines to be infectious and to require isolation and specialized treatment; and (2) the term specified infectious disease means an infectious disease with respect to which the Secretary determines under subsection (a) there is an emergency or a significant potential for an emergency. (e) Use of grant funds A State receiving funds under subsection (b) or (c) shall expend such funds solely for any of the purposes described in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b) or solely for disbursement to hospitals under subsection (c)(2), as applicable. Any funds not so expended or disbursed within 90 days of receipt of such funds shall be returned to the Secretary and shall remain available for the purpose of carrying out this section. (f) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $125,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2015 through 2019, to remain available until expended. .