1.This Act may be cited as
the Seasonal Influenza and Pandemic
Preparation Act of 2005
.
2.Free influenza
vaccine program
(a)The
Secretary shall establish a national voluntary influenza vaccination program
for adults and children under which any individual may receive an influenza
vaccine at no cost at any Federally qualified health center, public or private
hospital, physician office, clinic, or other entity determined appropriate by
the Secretary.
(b)
(1)An
entity described in subsection (a) that elects to provide vaccines to
individuals through the program shall be reimbursed for the costs of
administering such vaccines by the Secretary at the rate determined by the
Secretary for such vaccine for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or at such higher rate, including cost-based
reimbursement, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. Such reimbursement
may include the costs of practice expenses or other costs associated with the
administration of the influenza vaccine.
(2)An entity participating in the program shall not charge a
co-payment or apply any other cost-sharing requirements associated with the
administration of influenza vaccines, including any co-payment or other
cost-sharing for the visit associated with the administration of such
vaccine.
(3)Participation by an entity in the program shall be
voluntary.
(c)Public-private
partnerships
(1)The
Secretary shall award grants to State and local health departments, public
hospitals, Federally qualified health centers, and other entities to facilitate
the establishment of influenza vaccination programs in partnership with private
entities, including retail outlets, pharmacies, faith-based organizations,
private employers, and others as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(2)Any influenza vaccination provided to an individual under
a grant under this subsection shall be at no cost to the individual.
(3)An
entity participating in a program under a grant under this subsection may
request reimbursement from the Secretary under the program under subsection (a)
in addition to the amounts received under the grant.
(4)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection, $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as
may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
(d)
(1)Grants to
public entities
(A)The Secretary shall award grants to local health
departments, public hospitals, Federally qualified health centers, and other
entities to facilitate the development of influenza vaccination programs for
students and families of students in partnership with local primary and
secondary educational institutions (including private institutions and Head
Start programs).
(B)Any influenza vaccination provided to an individual under
a grant under this subsection shall be at no cost to the individual.
(2)The Secretary shall award grants to elementary and
secondary schools to facilitate the development of a voluntary influenza
vaccination program.
(3)Any influenza vaccination provided to an individual under
this subsection shall be at no cost to the individual.
(4)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this subsection, $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as
may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
(e)The Secretary, under the programs under titles XVIII, XIX,
and XXI of the Social Security Act, shall develop an immunization plan with
immunization target numbers for the respective populations served under the
program under each such title. The Secretary shall provide bonus payments to
eligible health care providers and other entities who meet immunization targets
established by the Secretary in such plans.
3.
(a)The
Secretary shall establish a Volunteer Vaccine Corps (referred to in this
section as the Corps
) to facilitate the distribution and
provision of vaccines to individuals under any voluntary influenza vaccination
program established by a State or local entity.
(b)Activation and
assignment of members
(1)The
members of the Corps shall be activated by the Secretary upon a declaration by
the Secretary of a public health emergency under section 319 of the Public
Health Service Act related to an influenza outbreak (including a seasonal
outbreak).
(2)Upon
activation, members of the Corps shall be assigned to State and local entities
to carry out the provisions of a State or local voluntary influenza vaccination
program during such emergency.
(3)The
Secretary may request members of the Corps from a State or territory to
participate in the vaccination program of another State or territory. The
Secretary shall enter into agreements with such States to accept licensure and
certification from such other States for the purpose of carrying out activities
under an influenza vaccination program.
(c)
(1)All duly licensed or certified health professionals,
including retired health professionals, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary, may participate in the Corps under procedures established by the
Secretary and after passing an approved training course developed by the
Secretary.
(2)The
Secretary, in cooperation and consultation with State and local entities, shall
maintain a database of Corps members. Such database shall, with respect to each
Corps member, include contact information, appropriate licensure or
certification information, and other information the Secretary determines
necessary to perform the activities of the Corps.
(d)The Secretary shall award grants to State and local public
health departments, Federally qualified health centers, public and private
hospitals, and other entities for the training of Corps members.
(e)Members
of the Corps, when performing their duties under an activation and assignment
by the Secretary under subsection (b) shall only be subject to liability for
their actions under such assignment as provided for under the Federal Tort
Claims Act.
(f)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may
be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
4.
(a)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention shall establish and implement a national public affairs campaign, to
be carried out through radio, television, print, and other media and methods
determined appropriate by the Secretary, to increase influenza immunization
rates.
(b)Authorization
of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and such sums as may
be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.
5.In this Act:
(1)The
term program means the national voluntary influenza vaccination
program established under section 2(a).
(2)The
term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human
Services.