To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to evaluate the Federal Government's collection and sharing of public health data to respond to public health emergencies.

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to evaluate the Federal Government’s collection and sharing of public health data to respond to public health emergencies. 1. Study on Federal public health data collection and sharing (a) In general The Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the Federal Government’s collection and sharing of public health data to respond to public health emergencies involving infectious disease outbreaks or biological threats, such as the COVID–19 pandemic, and provide as appropriate recommendations to address the collection and sharing of public health data. (b) Topics The evaluation under subsection (a) shall include a review of what is known about— (1) the authorities, policies, and operational tools used by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect public health data from, and share public health data with, other Federal agencies, State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, and other partners, including— (A) how those authorities, policies, and tools were used during the COVID–19 public health emergency; (B) how Federal funds were expended for the purpose of public health data collection and sharing during the COVID–19 public health emergency; (C) any challenges posed by redundant data reporting requirements placed on State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments and other partners during the COVID–19 public health emergency, including whether these requirements conflicted with the needs of State, local, territorial, or Tribal communities or other partners; and (D) any publicly available resources to track how public health data is being collected, shared, and used with other Federal agencies, State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, and other partners; (2) any limitations on the authorities, policies, and tools used during declared public health emergencies, including throughout the COVID–19 public health emergency, that affect the Federal Government’s ability to respond to declared public health emergencies; (3) any redundancy or overutilization in the authorities, policies, and tools used during declared public health emergencies, including throughout the COVID–19 public health emergency, including whether any redundant data reporting requirements conflicted with the needs of State, local, territorial, or Tribal communities or other partners; and (4) the Federal Government’s data collection, sharing, and epidemiological modeling during the COVID–19 public health emergency compared with the data collection, sharing, and epidemiological modeling of nonprofit and private sector stakeholders, including how the Secretary developed tools, or used already existing tools, to collect, share, model, and disseminate public health data in comparison to the development of tools and use of existing tools for such purposes by the nonprofit and private sectors. (c) Report to Congress Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the evaluation under subsection (a). (d) Definition In this section, the term other partners (1) hospitals and physician practices; (2) health systems and health plans; (3) manufacturers and distributors; and (4) clinical laboratories.

Summary: This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate data collection and sharing by the federal government during public health emergencies that involve infectious disease outbreaks or biological threats (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). In particular, the evaluation must (1) address various matters pertaining to the authorities, policies, and tools used to collect public health data from and share it with nonfederal governments, health care providers, and other partners; and (2) compare federal data collection, sharing, and modeling during the COVID-19 pandemic with similar activities carried out by nonfederal stakeholders.