Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for systematic data collection and analysis and epidemiological research regarding Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological diseases. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015 2. National neurological diseases surveillance system Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g et seq. 399V–6 Surveillance of neurological diseases (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall— (1) enhance and expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease; and (2) incorporate information obtained through such activities into a statistically-sound, scientifically-credible, integrated surveillance system, to be known as the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System. (b) Research The Secretary shall ensure that the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System is designed in a manner that facilitates further research on neurological diseases. (c) Content In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary— (1) shall provide for the collection and storage of information on the incidence and prevalence of neurological diseases in the United States; (2) to the extent practicable, shall provide for the collection and storage of other available information on neurological diseases, such as information concerning— (A) demographics and other information associated or possibly associated with neurological diseases, such as age, race, ethnicity, sex, geographic location, and family history; (B) risk factors associated or possibly associated with neurological diseases, including genetic and environmental risk factors; and (C) diagnosis and progression markers; (3) may provide for the collection and storage of information relevant to analysis on neurological diseases, such as information concerning— (A) the epidemiology of the diseases; (B) the natural history of the diseases; (C) the prevention of the diseases; (D) the detection, management, and treatment approaches for the diseases; and (E) the development of outcomes measures; and (4) may address issues identified during the consultation process under subsection (d). (d) Consultation In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with individuals with appropriate expertise, including— (1) epidemiologists with experience in disease surveillance or registries; (2) representatives of national voluntary health associations that— (A) focus on neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease; and (B) have demonstrated experience in research, care, or patient services; (3) health information technology experts or other information management specialists; (4) clinicians with expertise in neurological diseases; and (5) research scientists with experience conducting translational research or utilizing surveillance systems for scientific research purposes. (e) Grants The Secretary may award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit entities to carry out activities under this section. (f) Coordination with other Federal agencies Subject to subsection (h), the Secretary shall make information and analysis in the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System available, as appropriate, to Federal departments and agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense. (g) Public access Subject to subsection (h), the Secretary shall make information and analysis in the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System available, as appropriate, to the public, including researchers. (h) Privacy The Secretary shall ensure that privacy and security protections applicable to the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System are at least as stringent as the privacy and security protections under HIPAA privacy and security law (as defined in section 3009(a)(2)). (i) Report Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress concerning the implementation of this section. Such report shall include information on— (1) the development and maintenance of the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System; (2) the type of information collected and stored in the System; (3) the use and availability of such information, including guidelines for such use; and (4) the use and coordination of databases that collect or maintain information on neurological diseases. (j) Definition In this section, the term national voluntary health association (k) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019. .

Summary: Advancing Research for Neurological Diseases Act of 2015 Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) enhance and expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; and (2) incorporate information obtained through those activities into a National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the System facilitates further research on neurological diseases. Requires HHS to provide for the collection and storage of information on neurological diseases, including the incidence, prevalence, and other information, to the extent practicable. Requires HHS to: (1) make information and analysis in the System available to federal agencies and to the public, including researchers; and (2) ensure that privacy and security protections applicable to the System are at least as stringent as the protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.