Sec. 2. Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Disease
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The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary ) shall establish in the Office of the Secretary an Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Diseases (referred to in this Act as the Office ), to be headed by a director to be appointed by the Secretary. The Director of the Office shall— oversee the creation and maintenance of a national strategy to address Lyme disease, and other tick and vector-borne diseases as provided for in paragraph (2); and oversee and coordinate Lyme disease and other tick and vector-borne disease and disorder programs and activities across the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, as appropriate.
The Director of the Office shall provide for the conduct of an annual assessment of the progress of the United States in preparing for the escalating burden of Lyme disease and other tick and vector-borne diseases and disorders, including an assessment of all Federally funded programs and activities related to surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, education, or prevention, as well as implementation steps, and recommendations for priority actions, with appropriate benchmarks to measure progress, based on the assessment.
In developing the strategy under subparagraph (A), and maintaining it, the Director shall consult with non-Federal individuals with appropriate expertise, which may include— epidemiologists with experience in surveillance, treatment, education, or prevention of vector-borne diseases; representatives of national patient advocacy and research organizations that focus on vector-borne diseases, and those that focus specifically on tick-borne disease and have demonstrated experience in research, data collection, or patient access to care; health information technology experts or other information management specialists; clinicians, entomologists, vector-management professionals, integrated pest management professionals, public health professionals, and others with expertise in vector-borne disease, including Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases or disorders; and research scientists with experience conducting translational research or utilizing surveillance systems for scientific research purposes.
In carrying out subsection (b), the Director of the Office shall facilitate and work to ensure the accomplishment of the following activities: Expansion and enhancement of epidemiological research and basic, translational, and clinical biological and biomedical research. Expansion and improvement of tick surveillance, linking tick surveillance to surveillance of Lyme disease, and reporting of Lyme disease and other tick- and vector-borne diseases, including coinfections with agents of more than one tick or vector-borne diseases.
Development of effective diagnostic tests to accurately and timely diagnose Lyme disease and other tick- and vector-borne diseases, including direct detention tests. Development of treatments to cure or improve the lives of those who are infected with Lyme disease or other tick-and vector-borne diseases or who suffer from a tick-induced disorder (such as tick PIM programs). Address the quality of patient care, treatment affordability, and public awareness of Lyme disease and other tick or vector-borne diseases.
Design and conduct clinical trials of sufficient size and duration to support clinical recommendations. Systematic documentation of the experiences of health care professionals in diagnosing and treating tick- and vector-borne disease, including diagnostic and treatment outcomes. Development and maintenance of one or more registries of patients and their experiences relating to exposure to, diagnosis for, and treatment of tick- and vector-borne disease, including outcomes, such that the confidentiality and safety of patient data is protected.
Access to data and enable emerging technologies to improve patient care, sharing data with researchers and care providers. Coordination with other Federal departments to address tick- and other vector-borne diseases including the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Homeland Security. Coordination with the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act ( 42 U.S.C. 284s ) to develop and implement recommendations.
Coordination with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight against Lyme disease, and other tick- and vector-borne diseases globally.
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Sec. 2
Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Disease
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