Sec. 2. Office of Oversight and Coordination for Tick-Borne Diseases
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The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish in the Office of the Secretary the Office of Oversight and Coordination for Tick-Borne Diseases, to be headed by a director appointed by the Secretary— to oversee the creation and updating of an integrated national strategy to overcome Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases; and to oversee and coordinate Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease programs and activities across the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In carrying out subsection (a), the Director of the Office shall facilitate and work to ensure accomplishment of the following activities: Expansion and enhancement of epidemiological research and basic, translational, and clinical biological and biomedical research. Expansion and improvement of the surveillance and reporting of Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease, including coinfections with agents of more than one tick-borne disease. Development of effective diagnostic tests to accurately and timely diagnose Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease, including direct detention tests.
Development of treatments to cure or improve the lives of those who are infected with Lyme disease or other tick-borne disease or who suffer from a tick-induced disorder. Design and conduct of clinical trials of sufficient size and duration to support clinical recommendations. Development and maintenance of one or more registries of patients and their experiences relating to exposure to, diagnosis for, and treatment of tick-borne disease, including outcomes, which registries shall protect the confidentiality and safety of patient data.
Systematic documentation of the experiences of health care professionals in diagnosing and treating tick-borne disease, including diagnostic and treatment outcomes. Inclusion of individuals with chronic Lyme disease in clinical, research, and service efforts. Coordination with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight against Lyme disease and tick-borne disease globally. In carrying out this section, the Director of the Office shall, as directed by the Secretary, with any modifications made by and as otherwise determined appropriate by the Secretary, oversee and coordinate integration and implementation, into the activities of the Office and the activities and programs of the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services, of the recommendations to the Secretary and the findings and conclusions in the latest report of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group submitted to the Secretary and congressional committees.
In carrying out this section, the Director of the Office shall give priority to Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease based on assessments of disease burden in the United States.