COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to conduct diagnostic testing for COVID–19, and related activities such as contact tracing, through mobile health units and, as necessary, at individuals’ residences, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the COVID–19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act 2. COVID–19 testing and contact tracing using mobile health units (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to eligible entities to conduct diagnostic testing for COVID–19, to trace and monitor the contacts of infected individuals, and to support the quarantine of such contacts, through— (1) mobile health units; and (2) as necessary, testing individuals and providing individuals with services related to testing and quarantine at their residences. (b) Permissible uses of funds A grant recipient under this section may use the grant funds, in support of the activities described in subsection (a)— (1) to hire, train, compensate, and pay the expenses of individuals; and (2) to purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies. (c) Priority In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to— (1) applicants proposing to conduct activities funded under this section in hot spots and medically underserved communities; and (2) applicants that agree, in hiring individuals to carry out activities funded under this section, to hire residents of the area or community where the activities will primarily occur, with higher priority among applicants described in this paragraph given based on the percentage of individuals to be hired from such area or community. (d) Distribution In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grants are distributed across urban and rural areas. (e) Federal privacy requirements Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any Federal privacy or confidentiality requirement, including the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ( Public Law 104–191 42 U.S.C. 290dd–2 (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term eligible entity (A) a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) (B) a school-based health clinic; (C) a disproportionate share hospital (as defined under the applicable State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 42 U.S.C. 1396r–4 (D) an academic medical center; (E) a nonprofit organization (including any such faith-based organization); (F) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (G) a high school (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (H) any other type of entity that is determined by the Secretary to be an eligible entity for purposes of this section. (2) The term emergency period 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) (3) The term hot spot (4) The term medically underserved community 42 U.S.C. 295p (5) The term Secretary (g) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated— (1) $100,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal year 2021 and any subsequent fiscal year during which the emergency period continues.

Summary: COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants for testing, contact tracing, monitoring, and other activities to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Entities such as federally qualified health centers, nonprofit organizations, and certain hospitals and schools are eligible to receive such grants. In awarding the grants, the CDC shall prioritize applicants that (1) operate in hot spots and medically underserved communities, and (2) agree to hire individuals from the communities where grant activities occur.