II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4056 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 15, 2006 Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Chambliss) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide revised standards for quality assurance in screening and evaluation of gynecologic cytology preparations, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act of 2006.

2.

Revised standards for quality assurance in screening and evaluation of gynecologic cytology preparations

(a)

In general

Section 353(f)(4)(B)(iv) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 263a(f)(4)(B)(iv)) is amended to read as follows: (iv)requirements that each clinical laboratory— (I)ensure that all individuals involved in screening and interpreting cytological preparations at the laboratory participate annually in a continuing medical education program in gynecologic cytology that— (aa)is approved by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education or the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education, and (bb)provides each individual participating in the program with gynecologic cytologic preparations (in the form of referenced glass slides or equivalent technologies) designed to improve the locator, recognition and interpretive skills of the individual, and (II)maintain a record of the cytology continuing medical education results of each individual involved in screening and interpreting cytological preparations at the laboratory, . (b)

Effective date and implementation; termination of current program of individual proficiency testing

(1)

Effective date and implementation

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) applies to gynecologic cytology services provided on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (hereafter in this subsection referred to as the Secretary) shall issue final regulations implementing such amendment not later than 270 days after such date of enactment. (2)

Termination of current individual proficiency testing program

As of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall terminate the individual proficiency testing program established pursuant to section 353(f)(4)(B)(iv) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 263a(f)(4)(B)(iv)), as in effect before the enactment of this section.