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.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act 
of 2007''.

SEC. 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 
                                        cytological preparations (in 
                                        the form of referenced glass 
                                        slides or equivalent 
                                        technologies) designed to 
                                        improve the locator, 
                                        recognition, and interpretive 
                                        skills of the individual;
                                    ``(II) maintain a record of the 
                                cytology continuing medical education 
                                program results for each individual 
                                involved in screening and interpreting 
                                cytological preparations at the 
                                laboratory;
                                    ``(III) provide that the laboratory 
                                director shall take into account such 
                                results and other performance metrics 
                                in reviewing the performance of 
                                individuals involved in screening and 
                                interpreting cytological preparations 
                                at the laboratory and, when necessary, 
                                identify needs for remedial training or 
                                a corrective action plan to improve 
                                skills; and
                                    ``(IV) submit the continuing 
                                education program results for each 
                                individual and, if appropriate, plans 
                                for corrective action or remedial 
                                training in a timely manner to the 
                                laboratory's accrediting organization 
                                for purposes of review and on-going 
                                monitoring by the accrediting 
                                organization, including reviews of the 
                                continuing medical education program 
                                results during on-site inspections of 
                                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 first 
        day of the calendar year beginning 1 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 testing program.--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 on the day before the date of enactment of subsection 
        (a), at the end of the calendar year which includes the date of 
        enactment of the amendment made by subsection (a).

Summary: Cytology Proficiency Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise national quality assurance standards to assure consistent performance by laboratories of valid and reliable cytology services, to include requirements that each clinical laboratory: (1) ensure that all individuals involved in screening and interpreting cytological preparations participate annually in an approved continuing medical education program in gynecologic cytology that provides each participant with gynecologic cytological preparations designed to improve locator, recognition, and interpretive skills, (2) maintain a record of program results. (3) require the laboratory director to consider such results and other performance metrics in reviewing the performance of individuals involved in screening and interpreting cytological preparations. And (4) submit the continuing education program results for each individual and plans for corrective action or remedial training in a timely manner to the laboratory's accrediting organization for purposes of review and ongoing monitoring. Requires the Secretary to terminate individual proficiency testing that was in effect before enactment of this Act.