,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ecba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #e1 #bjai,mrs4 ,mc,bath 7for herself and ,mr4 ,carter of ,georgia7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to expand1 enhance1 and improve public health data systems1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,public ,health ,infrastructure ,modernization ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,public health data system transformation ,subtitle ,c of title ,,xxviii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;hh-#ca et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bhbb4 ,public health data system transformation 7a7 ,expanding ,,cdc and public health department capabilities 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall-- 7,a7 conduct activities to expand1 enhance1 and improve public health data systems used by the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 related to the interoperability and improvement of such systems 7including with respect to preparedness for1 prevention and detection of1 and response to public health emergencies72 and 7,b7 award grants or cooperative agreements to ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 or territorial public health departments for the expansion and modernization of public health data systems1 to assist public health departments in-- 7i7 assessing current data infrastructure capabilities and gaps to improve consistency in data collection1 storage1 and analysis1 and as appropriate to improve dissemination of public health-related information2 7ii7 improving secure public health data collection1 transmission1 exchange1 maintenance1 and analysis2 7iii7 improving the secure exchange of data between the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial public health departments1 public health organizations1 and health care providers1 including-- 7,i7 between public health officials in multiple jurisdictions within a ,state2 and 7,,ii7 by simplifying and supporting reporting by health care providers pursuant to ,state law1 including through the use of health information technology2 7iv7 enhancing the interoperability of public health data systems 7including systems created or accessed by public health departments7 with health information technology1 including with health information technology certified under section #cjja7;c77#e72 7v7 supporting and training public health data systems1 data science1 and informatics personnel2 7vi7 supporting earlier disease and health condition detection1 such as through near real-time data monitoring1 to support rapid public health responses2 7vii7 supporting activities within the applicable jurisdiction related to the expansion and modernization of electronic case reporting2 and 7viii7 developing and disseminating information related to the use and importance of public health data4 7#b7 ,data standards ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall1 as appropriate and in coordination with the ,office of the ,national ,coordinator for ,health ,information ,technology1 designate data and technology standards 7including standards for interoperability7 for public health data systems1 with deference given to standards published by consensus-based standards development organizations with public input and voluntary consensus-based standards bodies4 7#c7 ,public-private partnerships ,the ,secretary may develop and utilize public-private partnerships for technical assistance1 training1 and related implementation support for ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial public health departments1 and the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 on the expansion and modernization of electronic case reporting and public health data systems1 as applicable4 7b7 ,requirements 7#a7 ,health information technology standards ,the ,secretary may not award a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection 7a77#a77;,b7 unless the applicant uses or agrees to use standards endorsed by the ,national ,coordinator for ,health ,information ,technology pursuant to section #cjja7;c77#a7 or adopted by the ,secretary under section #cjjd4 7#b7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph 7#a7 with respect to an applicant if the ,secretary determines that the activities under subsection 7a77#a77;,b7 cannot otherwise be carried out within the applicable jurisdiction4 7#c7 ,application ,a ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 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 require4 ,such application shall include information describing-- 7,a7 the activities that will be supported by the grant or cooperative agreement2 and 7,b7 how the modernization of the public health data systems involved will support or impact the public health infrastructure of the health department1 including a description of remaining gaps1 if any1 and the actions needed to address such gaps4 7c7 ,strategy and implementation plan ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 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 describes the measures the ,secretary will utilize to-- 7#a7 update and improve public health data systems used by the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 and 7#b7 carry out the activities described in this section to support the improvement of ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial public health data systems4 7d7 ,consultation ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall consult with ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial public health departments1 professional medical and public health associations1 associations representing hospitals or other health care entities1 health information technology experts1 and other appropriate public or private entities4 7e7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives that includes-- 7#a7 a description of any barriers to-- 7,a7 public health authorities implementing interoperable public health data systems and electronic case reporting2 7,b7 the exchange of information pursuant to electronic case reporting2 or 7,c7 reporting by health care providers using such public health data systems1 as appropriate1 and pursuant to ,state law2 7#b7 an assessment of the potential public health impact of implementing electronic case reporting and interoperable public health data systems2 and 7#c7 a description of the activities carried out pursuant to this section4 7f7 ,electronic case reporting ,in this section1 the term electronic case reporting means the automated identification1 generation1 and bilateral exchange of reports of health events among electronic health record or health information technology systems and public health authorities4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 4