,,ii  #aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #cgbf  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,march #b1     
#bjbb,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,mr4     
,markey1 and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced
 the following bill2 which was read     
twice and referred to the ,committee on 
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to address       
research on1 and improve access to1     
supportive services for individuals with
 long ,,covid4  #a4 ,short title ,this  
,act may be cited as the ,comprehensive 
,access to ,resources and ,education for
 ,long ,,covid ,act or the ,,care for   
,long ,,covid ,act4  #b4 ,authorization 
to fund research of the long-term       
symptoms of ,,covid-#ai by the          
,patient-,centered ,outcomes ,research  
,trust ,fund  7a7 ,in general ,the      
,patient-,centered ,outcomes ,research  
,trust ,fund under section #aaha of the 
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#acbj;e7b77 shall fund activities       
described in subsection 7b7 to improve  

treatment and outcomes for individuals  
with ,,pasc4  7b7 ,activities described 
,for purposes of subsection 7a71        
activities described in this subsection 
shall include-- 7#a7 prior to creating a
 patient registry described in paragraph
 7#b7-- 7,a7 surveying existing patient 
registries that include individuals     
experiencing ,,pasc and other relevant  
chronic disease or health registries2   
and  7,b7 identifying common data       
elements and definitions for use1 in    
order to promote appropriate data       
sharing for ongoing and future research2
  7#b7 creating a patient registry1     
informed by the survey described in     
paragraph 7#a71 for individuals with    
suspected or confirmed ,,pasc and       
related post-viral illnesses or         
conditions-- 7,a7 with information that 
is culturally and linguistically        
appropriate and easily accessible to    
people with disabilities1 and which may 
include-- 7i7 symptoms that arise while 
an individual is initially infected with

 ,,covid-#ai and that may resolve over  
time or extend beyond the resolution of 
the initial symptoms2  7ii7 persistent  
symptoms that arise after an individual 
is initially infected with ,,covid-#ai  
and that the clinician of such          
individual has reason to suspect were   
related to the ,,covid-#ai diagnosis2   
7iii7 symptoms that arise in an         
individual that may be related to       
,,covid-#ai but a diagnosis of          
,,covid-#ai was not obtained and cannot 
be identified due to a lack of          
antibodies1 false negative test results1
 or lack of access to timely testing2   
7iv7 treatments of individuals after    
primary diagnosis of ,,covid-#ai and the
 effectiveness of such treatments2 and  
7v7 any other relevant questions or     
issues related to individuals who       
experience a diagnosis of1 treatment    
for1 and management of care with        
,,covid-#ai1 ,,pasc1 or related         
post-viral illnesses2  7,b7 that        
collects information regarding          

co-morbidities1 vaccination status1 and 
demographics1 including age1 gender1    
race and ethnicity1 geographic location1
 disability1 and occupation of registry 
participants2  7,c7 that synthesizes    
information relating to individuals     
experiencing ,,pasc or related          
post-viral illnesses or conditions from 
the survey described in paragraph 7#a7  
and other information available through 
the patient registry2 and  7,d7 that    
disseminates information to relevant    
,federal departments and agencies and   
patients participating in the registry  
to inform treatment and policy related  
to ,,covid-#ai1 ,,pasc1 or related      
post-viral illnesses and conditions2 and
  7#c7 outreach to1 and inclusion 7as   
appropriate7 of1 individuals1 including 
children and older adults1 from         
communities impacted by high ,,covid-#ai
 rates1 communities affected by health  
disparities and inequities1 including   
,indian ,tribes and ,tribal             
organizations1 urban ,indian            

organizations1 people with disabilities1
 individuals with related post-viral    
illnesses or conditions1 health care    
providers1 first responders1 and        
frontline workers who may be impacted by
 high ,,covid-#ai rates1 and health care
 providers from diverse disciplines that
 may treat individuals with ,,covid-#ai1
 ,,pasc1 or related post-viral illnesses
 and conditions4  7c7 ,privacy          
protections ,participation in the       
registry described in subsection 7b77#b7
 shall be voluntary and personal and    
health information of participants1     
including information voluntarily       
submitted through the registry1 shall be
 subject to all applicable privacy      
protections under ,federal or ,state    
law4  7d7 ,report ,not later than #a    
year after the establishment of the     
synthesized patient registry under      
subsection 7b77#b71 and annually        
thereafter1 the ,patient-,centered      
,outcomes ,research ,institute shall    
submit data1 findings1 and information  

with respect to the status of the       
patient registry 7including progress1   
barriers1 and issues7 to ,congress and  
the ,president4  7e7 ,authorization of  
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year
 #bjbc1 which shall remain available    
until expended4  #c4 ,research on       
,united ,states health care system's    
response to ,,pasc  7a7 ,in general ,the
 ,secretary of ,health and ,human       
,services 7referred to in this ,act as  
the ,secretary71 in coordination with   
the ,director of the ,agency for        
,healthcare ,research and ,quality1 the 
,director of the ,national ,institutes  
of ,health1 and the ,director of the    
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention1 shall conduct or support   
research related to the ,united ,states 
health care system's response to ,,pasc1
 including with respect to-- 7#a7 the   
expansion and efficacy of               
post-infectious disease treatment1      

including-- 7,a7 identifying obstacles  
to access for treatment of ,,covid-#ai1 
,,pasc1 or related post-viral illnesses 
and conditions for veterans1 older      
adults1 people with disabilities1       
children and young adults1 communities  
of color1 underserved and rural         
communities1 and other groups impacted  
by high rates of ,,covid-#ai1 as        
determined by the ,secretary2  7,b7     
evaluating and identifying potential    
gaps or other weaknesses that contribute
 to age1 gender1 geographic location1   
disability1 occupation1 and racial and  
ethnic disparities with respect to      
,,covid-#ai infection rates1 severity   
and length of symptoms1 and outcomes2   
and  7,c7 identifying trends associated 
with differences in diagnosis and       
treatment of ,,pasc and related         
post-viral illnesses and conditions by  
demographic factors such as age1 gender1
 geographic location1 disability1       
occupation1 race1 ethnicity1 or other   
factors identified by the ,secretary to 

promote health equity2 and  7#b7        
conducting and supporting research to-- 
7,a7 identify health care strategies    
that help mitigate age1 gender1         
geographic location1 disability1        
occupation1 and racial and ethnic       
disparities in ,,covid-#ai infection    
rates1 hospitalizations1 severity and   
length of symptoms1 secondary illnesses1
 and outcomes2  7,b7 identify health    
care-related factors contributing to    
such disparities in ,,covid-#ai         
infection rates1 hospitalizations1      
severity and length of symptoms1        
secondary illnesses1 and outcomes2 and  
7,c7 provide recommendations on ensuring
 equity in diagnosis and access to      
quality post-infectious treatments that 
may be advanced to mitigate such        
disparities1 going forward4  7b7        
,authorization of ,appropriations ,to   
carry out this section1 there is        
authorized to be appropriated           
#ae1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbc1 which
 shall remain available until expended4 

#d4 ,education and dissemination of     
information on ,,pasc  7a7 ,post-,acute 
sequelae of ,,covid-#ai 7,,pasc7 public 
education program ,the ,secretary1      
acting through the ,director of the     
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention1 shall develop and          
disseminate to the public information   
regarding ,,pasc1 in plain language and 
in a manner that is culturally and      
linguistically appropriate and easily   
accessible to people with disabilities  
and people with limited ,english        
proficiency1 including information on-- 
7#a7 the awareness1 incidence1 and      
short- and long-term health effects     
associated with ,,covid-#ai infection2  
7#b7 illnesses related and often        
comorbid with ,,pasc1 which may         
include-- 7,a7 myalgic                  
encephalomyelitis_/chronic fatigue      
syndrome and fibromyalgia2  7,b7        
postural orthostatic tachycardia        
syndrome and other forms of             
dysautonomia2  7,c7 autoimmune diseases 

associated with viral triggers2  7,d7   
connective tissue diseases exacerbated  
or triggered by infections2  7,e7 mast  
cell activation syndrome2  7,f7 related 
conditions and illnesses that may affect
 adults1 young adults1 or children2 and 
7,g7 other conditions1 as the ,secretary
 determines appropriate2 and  7#c7 the  
availability1 as medically appropriate1 
of treatment options for ,,pasc and     
related post-viral illnesses and        
conditions overlapping with ,,pasc      
identified under paragraph 7#b74  7b7   
,post-,acute sequelae of ,,covid-#ai    
7,,pasc7 provider education program ,the
 ,secretary1 acting through the         
,director of the ,centers for ,disease  
,control and ,prevention1 shall1 in     
consultation with representatives from  
impacted communities and health care    
providers who treat these communities or
 individuals1 develop and disseminate to
 health care providers information on   
,,pasc1 recommended assessment tools1   
and management of ,,pasc and related    

conditions for the purpose of ensuring  
that health care providers remain       
informed about current information on   
such emerging illness and related       
post-infectious illnesses1 which have   
been shown to be closely related to     
,,pasc1 including information on-- 7#a7 
,,pasc symptoms such as cognitive1      
neurological1 psychiatric1              
gastrointestinal1 respiratory1 and      
cardiovascular symptoms2  7#b7 myalgic  
encephalomyelitis_/chronic fatigue      
syndrome and fibromyalgia2  7#c7        
postural orthostatic tachycardia        
syndrome and other forms of             
dysautonomia2  7#d7 autoimmune diseases 
associated with viral triggers2  7#e7   
connective tissue diseases exacerbated  
or triggered by infections2  7#f7 mast  
cell activation syndrome2  7#g7 related 
conditions and illnesses that may affect
 adults1 young adults1 or children2 and 
7#h7 other conditions as the ,secretary 
determines appropriate4  7c7            
,considerations ,in developing and      

disseminating information in subsections
 7a7 and 7b71 the ,secretary shall      
ensure that-- 7#a7 guidance on ,,pasc   
diagnostics1 treatments1 and care       
include demographic factors such as age1
 gender1 geographic location1           
disability1 occupation1 race and        
ethnicity1 and other factors identified 
by the ,secretary to promote health     
equity2 and  7#b7 individuals with      
,,pasc or related post-viral illnesses  
and conditions1 and entities            
representing such individuals1 are      
empowered to participate in protocol    
development and outreach and education  
strategies4  7d7 ,dissemination of      
information ,the ,secretary shall       
disseminate1 in plain language and in a 
manner that is culturally and           
linguistically appropriate and easily   
accessible to people with disabilities  
and individuals with limited ,english   
proficiency1 information under          
subsections 7a7 and 7b71 directly or    
through arrangements with intra-agency  

initiatives1 nonprofit organizations1   
consumer groups1 institutions of higher 
learning 7as defined in section #aja of 
the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja771 local           
educational agencies or ,state          
educational agencies 7as defined in     
section #haja of the ,elementary and    
,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja771 or ,federal1 ,state1
 ,tribal1 or local public private       
partnerships4  7e7 ,authorization of    
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for each of    
fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbe1 which 
shall remain available until expended4  
#e4 ,interagency coordination on public 
engagement and information dissemination
 on ,,pasc  7a7 ,in general ,the        
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services shall convene relevant        
agencies to develop information and     
resources to make available to the      
public and for dissemination to         

individuals and communities impacted by 
,,pasc and related post-viral illness   
and conditions to raise awareness and   
provide education on the impact ,,pasc  
or related post-viral illness and       
conditions may have on rights associated
 with employment1 disability status1 and
 education afforded under ,federal and  
,state law4  7b7 ,collaboration and     
consultation ,in developing the         
information and resources under         
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of       
,health and ,human ,services-- 7#a7     
shall collaborate with-- 7,a7 the       
,department of ,labor1 including the    
,office of ,disability ,employment      
,policy of the ,department of ,labor2   
7,b7 the ,department of ,education2     
7,c7 the ,social ,security              
,administration2  7,d7 relevant agencies
 within the ,department of ,health and  
,human ,services1 including-- 7i7 the   
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention2  7ii7 the ,national        
,institutes of ,health2  7iii7 the      

,centers for ,medicare  ,medicaid       
,services2  7iv7 the ,administration for
 ,children and ,families2 and  7v7 the  
,administration on ,community ,living2  
and  7,e7 other ,federal departments1   
agencies1 or offices1 as the ,secretary 
determines appropriate to carry out the 
activities described in this section2   
and  7#b7 may consult with-- 7,a7       
communities and professions impacted by 
high ,,covid-#ai rates2  7,b7           
individuals with ,,pasc or related      
post-viral illnesses and conditions2 and
  7,c7 organizations and experts that   
represent the rights and interests of   
the groups described in subparagraphs   
7,a7 and 7,b74  7c7 ,information and    
resources developed ,not later than #a  
year after the date of enactment of this
 ,act1 the entities described in        
subsection 7b7 shall develop information
 and resources to include-- 7#a7        
educational materials to school         
administrators1 counselors1 educators1  
parents1 coaches1 school nurses1 and    

other school staff about ,,pasc and     
related post-viral illnesses and        
conditions with clear guidance on       
appropriate academic1 social1 and       
emotional supports and services1 and the
 rights of students with disabilities1  
available to students and families2     
7#b7 guidance for employers on the      
rights of people with disabilities      
related to ,,pasc and related post-viral
 illnesses and conditions2 and  7#c7    
guidance on ,,pasc and related          
post-viral illnesses and conditions as a
 disability1 including recommendations  
to streamline the process of applying   
for benefits through the ,social        
,security ,administration1 including    
guidance on evaluating ,,pasc and       
related post-viral illnesses and        
conditions for individuals under the age
 of #ah1 continuing disability reviews1 
and the payment of benefits under part  
,l of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime   
,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of     
#aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajbha et seq474   

7d7 ,appropriations ,to carry out this  
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for each of    
fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbe1 which 
shall remain available until expended4  
#f4 ,research with respect to ,medicaid 
coverage of long-term symptoms of       
,,covid-#ai  7a7 ,research ,the         
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services shall expand the ,chronic     
,conditions ,data ,warehouse research   
database of the ,centers for ,medicare  
,medicaid ,services to collect data on  
items and services furnished to         
individuals under a ,state plan 7or a   
waiver of such a plan7 under the        
,medicaid program under title ,,xix of  
the ,social ,security ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq47 or under a     
,state child health plan 7or a waiver of
 such a plan7 under the ,children's     
,health ,insurance ,program under title 
,,xxi of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4       
#acig;aa et seq47 for the treatment of  
,,pasc1 for purposes of assessing the   

frequency at which ,,covid-#ai survivors
 are furnished such items and services4 
7b7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to
 carry out this section1 there is       
authorized to be appropriated #c1jjj1jjj
 for fiscal year #bjbb1 which shall     
remain available until expended4  #g4   
,program to support legal and social    
service assistance for individuals with 
,,pasc  7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary 
of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting 
through the ,administrator of the       
,administration for ,community ,living1 
shall award grants or contracts to      
eligible entities for purposes of       
establishing or expanding medical-legal 
partnerships1 or increasing the         
availability of legal assistance or     
social supports necessary1 to provide   
effective aid or support to individuals 
with ,,pasc or related post-viral       
illnesses and conditions who are seeking
 assistance in obtaining or maintaining 
access to1 or in legal matters relating 
to1 any of the following services1 at   

minimal or no cost to the individuals3  
7#a7 ,the ,social ,security ,disability 
,insurance program under section #bbc of
 the ,social ,security ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #dbc74  7#b7 ,the supplemental
 security income program under title    
,,xvi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db
 ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq474  7#c7        
,survivors benefits under title ,,ii of 
the ,social ,security ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #dja et seq474  7#d7 ,housing 
matters4  7#e7 ,access to medical care4 
7#f7 ,access to vocational              
rehabilitation services under title ,i  
of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gbj et seq474  7#g7     
,access to assistive technology under   
the ,assistive ,technology ,act of #aiih
 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cjja et seq474  7#h7   
,early intervention1 specialized        
instruction1 and related services and   
accommodations for children provided    
under parts ,b and ,c of the            
,individuals with ,disabilities         
,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adaa et 

seq42 #bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adca et seq47 and  
section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act
 of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid74  7#i7   
,the low-income home energy assistance  
program established under the           
,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance  
,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et   
seq474  7#aj7 ,employment supports4     
7#aa7 ,nutrition assistance4  7#ab7     
,other support services for low-income  
individuals and people with disabilities
 7as defined in section #c of the       
,americans with ,disabilities ,act of   
#aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb774  7b7     
,eligibility for awards  7#a7 ,in       
general ,to be eligible to receive an   
award under this section1 an entity     
shall-- 7,a7 be-- 7i7 a ,state1 or an   
agency implementing the ,state          
protection and advocacy system 7as      
defined in section #ajb of the          
,developmental ,disabilities ,assistance
 and ,bill of ,rights ,act of #bjjj 7#db
 ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb772  7ii7 a nonprofit  
entity or a publicly funded organization

 not acting in a governmental capacity1 
such as a law school2  7iii7 an ,indian 
,tribe or ,tribal organization2  7iv7 an
 urban ,indian organization2  7v7 a     
territory2  7vi7 a health care provider 
with an existing multi-disciplinary     
clinic or other specialized program     
focused on serving individuals with     
,,pasc1 underserved communities1 or     
low-income patients1 or with a          
demonstrated intent to create such a    
program2  7vii7 an entity providing     
legal services2 or  7viii7 a consortium 
of entities described in clauses 7i7    
through 7vii72  7,b7 agree to use the   
award for the purposes described in     
subsection 7c72 and  7,c7 partner with  
at least one community-based            
organization with a demonstrated history
 of serving people with disabilities1   
including helping people with           
disabilities access supportive services1
 or a demonstrated history of serving   
impacted communities1 including         
limited-,english proficient communities4

  7#b7 ,priority ,in making awards under
 subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall   
give priority to entities described in  
paragraph that certify in writing that  
any person providing legal assistance   
through a program supported by the      
award-- 7,a7 7i7 has demonstrated       
expertise in providing legal assistance 
to people with disabilities2 or  7ii7 is
 partnered with a person that has       
demonstrated expertise described in     
clause 7i72 and  7,b7 has completed1 or 
will complete1 training in connection   
with disability-related legal issues4   
7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity   
receiving an award under this section   
may use such award to-- 7#a7 establish  
or expand medical-legal partnerships or 
other cooperative efforts between       
community-based organizations1 medical  
and social service providers1 and legal 
assistance providers to provide legal   
assistance and help accessing or        
maintaining social services for         
individuals with ,,pasc2  7#b7 establish

 or expand efforts and projects to      
provide legal assistance for individuals
 with ,,pasc by organizations with a    
demonstrated history of providing direct
 legal or advocacy services on behalf of
 people with disabilities2  7#c7 provide
 technical assistance to organizations  
or agencies for educating individuals   
with ,,pasc or parents1 including foster
 parents1 caring for children with      
,,pasc about rights related to          
accommodations in employment1 education1
 or other matters as determined by the  
,secretary2 and  7#d7 employ staff or   
educate current staff on assisting      
individuals with ,,pasc in obtaining    
health care1 social services1 or legal  
services4  7d7 ,reporting ,eligible     
entities receiving an award under this  
section shall collect data and report   
information to the ,secretary of ,health
 and ,human ,services in a manner       
prescribed by such ,secretary4  7e7     
,evaluation ,not later than #a year     
after the date of enactment of this     

,act1 and annually thereafter1 the      
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services 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 ,representatives1     
which shall also be made publicly       
available1 outlining the number of      
individuals who sought services offered 
by recipients of awards under this      
section and the services provided4 ,such
 report shall include a summary of      
activities conducted under the program  
under this section1 and information     
broken down by award recipient4  7f7    
,authorization of appropriations  7#a7  
,in general ,there is authorized to be  
appropriated to carry out this section  
#ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years    
#bjbc through #bjbg4  7#b7              
,nonsupplantation ,amounts made         
available under this section shall be   
used to supplement and not supplant     
other ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds 

expended to further the purpose of this 
section4  #h4 ,definitions ,in this     
,act3 7#a7 ,indian ,tribe2 ,tribal      
organization ,the terms ,indian ,tribe  
and ,tribal organization have the       
meanings given the terms ,indian tribe  
and tribal organization in section #d of
 the ,indian ,self-,determination and   
,education ,assistance ,act 7#be        
,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  7#b7 ,,pasc ,the term
 ,,pasc means post-acute sequelae of    
,,covid-#ai1 commonly referred to as    
long ,,covid4  7#c7 ,urban ,indian      
organization ,the term urban ,indian    
organization has the meaning given such 
term in section #d of the ,indian       
,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be    
,u4,s4,c4 #afjc74