Sec. 312. Establishing COVID–19 strike teams for nursing facilities
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/bill/116/s/4318/is/section-312·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary is authorized to establish and support the operation of strike teams comprised of individuals with relevant skills, qualifications, and experience to respond to COVID–19-related crises in participating providers during the COVID–19 public health emergency period, based on data reported by such providers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Strike teams established by the Secretary may include assessment, testing, and clinical teams, and a mission for each such team may include performing medical examinations, conducting COVID–19 testing, and assisting participating providers with the implementation of infection control practices (such as quarantine, isolation, or disinfection procedures).
Strike teams and members of such teams shall be subject to the Secretary’s oversight and direction and the Secretary may issue a letter of authorization to team members describing— the individual’s designation to serve on 1 or more teams under an emergency proclamation by the Secretary; the mission of the team; the authority of the individual to perform the team mission; the individual’s authority to access places, persons, and materials necessary for the team member’s performance of the team’s mission; the requirement that team members maintain the confidentiality of patient information shared with such individuals by a participating provider; and the required security background checks that the individual has passed.
The Secretary may, at any time, disband any strike team and rescind the letter of authorization for any team member. A team and team member may not use the letter of authorization described in paragraph
(2)for any purpose except in connection with the team’s mission of acting in good faith to promote resident and employee safety in participating providers in which COVID–19 is confirmed to be present. The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may establish protocols and procedures for requesting the assistance of a strike team established under this section and any other procedures deemed necessary for the team’s operation. Strike teams established by the Secretary under this section shall supplement and not supplant response efforts carried out by a State strike team or a technical assistance team established by the Secretary during the COVID-19 public health emergency period