H.R. 1961 — CARE Act

This section establishes a department-wide after-action program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify and implement solutions for issues arising from any HHS response to a public health emergency declared under section 319(a) of the Public Health Service Act and to integrate agency-specific after-action programs. The HHS Secretary must establish and begin implementing the program not later than two years after enactment, incorporate input from and coordinate with external stakeholders (e.g., other federal agencies, state and tribal health departments, and nongovernmental partners), and include specified elements in program reports such as (1) reviews of emergency operations, continuity, and business plans; (2) information-sharing and situational awareness protocols; (3) coordination strategies with coalitions and partners; (4) incident management structures; (5) communications frameworks; (6) staff, space, and patient management; (7) logistics and supply chain strategies; (8) resource allocation under crisis standards of care; (9) infection prevention measures; (10) treatment, transport, and discharge protocols; (11) case management refinements; and (12) medical countermeasure strategies. The HHS Inspector General must evaluate the program's efficacy as appropriate based on risks and needs and report to Congress.

This section establishes a comprehensive risk communication strategy for agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure communications about infectious diseases and other public health risks are clear, accurate, and prioritize populations most at risk. The strategy must (1) clearly identify at-risk populations during public health emergencies and (2) ensure communications are targeted, understandable, and accessible; HHS must establish and begin implementing the initial strategy not later than one year after enactment.