Bill > S11

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), which is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The key provisions include: 1) Allowing NDMS personnel to be present at locations at risk of a public health emergency for limited periods of time, as determined by the Secretary. 2) Requiring a joint review of the NDMS to evaluate medical surge capacity, assess the available workforce of intermittent disaster response personnel, and identify gaps and recommendations for addressing them. The Secretary must update these findings as part of the National Health Security Strategy. 3) Allowing the Secretary to directly appoint candidates to NDMS intermittent disaster response positions without the usual competitive hiring process if the Secretary determines the workforce is insufficient to address a public health emergency, with this authority expiring in 2022. 4) Requiring the Secretary to notify Congress within 30 days if the NDMS workforce is insufficient to address a public health emergency, including the potential impact and any measures to address the shortage.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/11/all-info