H.R. 1961: Coordinated Agency Response Enhancement Act

The bill titled the "Coordinated Agency Response Enhancement Act" (CARE Act) aims to improve the response of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to public health emergencies. It establishes two main programs: an after-action program and a risk communication strategy.

After-Action Program

• Establishment and Implementation: The Secretary of HHS is required to establish and implement a department-wide after-action program. This program's main goals are to identify and solve problems encountered during responses to public health emergencies and to enhance collaboration among various HHS agencies.
• Deadline: The Secretary must implement this program within two years of the bill's enactment.
• Collaboration with External Stakeholders: The after-action program must obtain input and coordinate with relevant external stakeholders, including:
  • Other federal agencies
  • Health departments of states and local jurisdictions
  • Nongovernmental partners
• Oversight: The Inspector General of HHS will evaluate the effectiveness of the after-action program and report to Congress, focusing on the program's ability to identify challenges and suggest improvements.
• Reporting Guidelines: The Secretary will create comprehensive guidelines for reporting on the after-action program, which will include various elements such as:
  • Emergency operations and continuity plans
  • Information sharing and situational awareness
  • Coordination strategies with healthcare partners
  • Incident management structures
  • Logistics and supply chain management
  • Infection prevention strategies
  • Treatment, transport, and discharge protocols
  • Recovery strategies
• Funding: The bill authorizes $3.5 million for the initial four reports of the after-action program.

Risk Communication Strategy

• Establishment of Strategy: A comprehensive risk communication strategy will be created to ensure that communications regarding infectious diseases and public health risks are clear, accurate, and prioritize the most at-risk populations.
• Components of the Strategy: This strategy should:
  • Identify at-risk populations during public health emergencies
  • Ensure that communications are accessible and understandable
• Implementation Deadline: The initial implementation of this communication strategy is required within one year of the bill's enactment.

Overall Goals

The overall objective of the CARE Act is to strengthen the capabilities of HHS to effectively respond to public health emergencies by learning from past experiences and by ensuring effective communication with the public and stakeholders.

Relevant Companies

• PFE (Pfizer Inc.): As a major pharmaceutical company, Pfizer could be impacted through potential collaborations in vaccine distribution and public health communications related to infectious diseases.
• MRNA (Moderna, Inc.): Being at the forefront of vaccine technology, Moderna may need to align with new guidelines on communication strategies and public health collaborations that result from this act.
• JNJ (Johnson & Johnson): J&J may influence and be influenced by the strategies developed for effective management and distribution of medical countermeasures during public health emergencies.