ConTACT Act of 2015

To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment and implementation of guidelines on best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs) in school-aged children, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act of 2015 ConTACT Act of 2015 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries, the long-term effects of which are not well understood. (2) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year United States emergency departments treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs), including concussions, among children and adolescents, from birth to 19 years of age. However, this number does not capture the total number, as many MTBIs go undiagnosed. (3) There is an increased risk for subsequent brain injuries among persons who have had at least one previous brain injury. (4) A repeat concussion, one that occurs before the brain recovers from a previous concussion, can slow recovery or increase the likelihood of having long-term problems. (5) In rare cases, repeat concussions can result in second impact syndrome, which can be marked by brain swelling, permanent brain damage, and death. (6) Recurrent brain injuries and second impact syndrome are highly preventable. (7) Many States have adopted concussion management rules and regulations, but many schools lack the resources to implement best practices in concussion diagnosis and management. 3. Guidelines on best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of mild traumatic brain injuries in school-aged children Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 243 et seq. 317U. Guidelines on best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of mild traumatic brain injuries in school-aged children (a) Guidelines (1) By Secretary Not later than 90 days after issuance of the final report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall establish guidelines for States on the implementation of best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of MTBIs in school-aged children. (2) By Panel Not later than July 31, 2015, the Pediatric MTBI Guideline Expert Panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall issue a final report on best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of MTBIs in school-aged children. (3) Student athletes returning to play The guidelines under paragraph (1) and the report under paragraph (2) shall address best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of MTBIs in student athletes returning to play after an MTBI. (b) Grants to States (1) In general After establishing the guidelines under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary may make grants to States for purposes of— (A) adopting such guidelines, and disseminating such guidelines to elementary and secondary schools; and (B) ensuring that elementary and secondary schools— (i) implement such guidelines; (ii) are adequately staffed with athletic trainers and other medical professionals necessary to implement such guidelines; and (iii) implement computerized pre-season baseline and post-injury neuropsychological testing for student athletes. (2) Grant applications (A) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (B) Minimum contents The Secretary shall require that an application of a State under subparagraph (A) contain at a minimum— (i) a description of the strategies the State will use to disseminate the guidelines under subsection (a)(1) to elementary and secondary schools, and to ensure implementation of such guidelines by such schools, including any strategic partnerships that the State will form; and (ii) an agreement by the State to periodically provide data with respect to the incidence of MTBIs and second impact syndrome among student athletes in the State. (3) Utilization of high school sports associations and local chapters of national brain injury organizations The Secretary shall require States receiving grants under this section to utilize, to the extent practicable, applicable expertise and services offered by high school sports associations and local chapters of national brain injury organizations in such States. (c) Coordination of activities In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall coordinate in an appropriate manner with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that carry out activities related to MTBIs. (d) Report to Congress Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of subsection (b) and shall include in such report— (1) the number of States that have adopted the guidelines under subsection (a)(1); (2) the number of elementary and secondary schools that have implemented computerized pre-season baseline and post-injury neuro-psychological testing for student athletes; and (3) the data collected with respect to the incidence of MTBIs and second impact syndrome among student athletes. (e) Definitions In this section, the following definitions apply: (1) The term MTBI (2) The term school-aged child (3) The term second impact syndrome (4) The term Secretary (5) The term State (6) The term student athlete (f) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020. .

Summary: Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act of 2015 or the ConTACT Act of 2015 Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish guidelines for states on the implementation of best practices for diagnosis, treatment, and management of mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs) in school-aged children, including best practices relating to student athletes returning to play after an MTBI. Requires the Pediatric MTBI Guideline Expert Panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a final report on best practices by July 31, 2015. Authorizes HHS to make grants to states to: (1) adopt, disseminate, and ensure schools implement the guidelines; and (2) ensure elementary and secondary schools implement computerized preseason baseline and post-injury neuropsychological testing for student athletes. Directs HHS to require states receiving grants to utilize, to the extent practicable, applicable expertise and services offered by local chapters of national brain injury organizations.