Bill > HR789

This bill, the Tick-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act of 2015, mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conduct or support various types of research, including epidemiological, basic, translational, and clinical studies, specifically focusing on Lyme disease and other illnesses transmitted by ticks. To ensure coordinated efforts and identify research priorities, HHS is required to establish the Interagency Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, which will review all related HHS activities. This Working Group will be responsible for producing a summary of tick-borne disease research, scientific advancements, and differing viewpoints every two years, making recommendations to HHS on relevant activities, and holding annual public meetings to gather input. Furthermore, HHS must develop and submit a comprehensive strategic plan for tick-borne disease research within three years of the bill's enactment and every five years thereafter, detailing budgetary needs, benchmarks for improving diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and prevention, and a plan for disseminating research findings and information to healthcare professionals and the public.