Safety Network (NHSN), which shall be used by the CDC 
to develop a national database of infection rates in hos-
pitals. With respect to reporting such information, the fol-
lowing shall apply: 
(1) Hospitals shall meet data reporting stand-
ards as required by the NHSN, including time-
frames, case-finding techniques, submission formats, 
infection definitions and other relevant terms, meth-
odology for surveillance of infections, risk-adjust-
ment techniques, or other specifications necessary to 
render the incoming data valid, consistent, compat-
ible, and manageable. 
(2) Hospitals shall submit data that allows the 
CDC to distinguish between— 
(A) infections that are present in patients 
upon their admission to the hospital; 
(B) infections that occur during a patient’s 
hospital stay; and 
(C) infections caused by multiple drug re-
sistant organisms and nondrug resistant orga-
nisms. 
(3) The CDC shall have the authority to make 
such orders, findings, rules, and regulations as nec-
essary to ensure that hospitals accurately and timely 
track and report data. 
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(b) CONSULTATION.—The CDC shall review and re-
vise NHSN standards as appropriate, working in consulta-
tion with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
AHRQ, and national organizations engaged in healthcare 
quality measurement and reporting. 
(c) DATA HARMONIZATION.—The Director shall work 
in collaboration with the Administrator to support the har-
monization of data for purposes of developing a national 
database of infections rates in hospitals and other pur-
poses determined to be appropriate. 
(d) DISSEMINATION OF DATA.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, subject to 
the confidentiality of patient records, the CDC shall— 
(1) make data available to interested research-
ers; 
(2) make data available to interested State 
Health Departments; 
(3) produce useful and accessible reports for 
the public to allow for comparisons of HAI rates 
across hospitals; and 
(4) use data to assist hospitals in evaluating 
and formulating best practices strategies to reduce 
infection rates. 
(e) PRIVACY OF DATA.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of Federal, State, or local law, the infection data 
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collected pursuant to this Act shall be privileged and shall 
not be— 
(1) subject to admission as evidence or other 
disclosure in any Federal, State, or local civil or ad-
ministrative proceeding; and 
(2) subject to use in a State or local discipli-
nary proceeding against a hospital or provider. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 6. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PAYMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) PAY FOR PERFORMANCE INITIATIVES REPORT.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
studying the feasibility of reducing HAI rates through a 
Quality Improvement Payment Program. 
(b) PROGRAM.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
consider such factors as— 
(1) patient demographics, such as— 
(A) the median income of patients; 
(B) percentage of minority patients; and 
(C) disease condition; 
(2) hospital characteristics, such as— 
(A) median income; 
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(B) population density of the hospital zip 
code locale; 
(C) university affiliation; and 
(D) hospital size as indicated by the num-
ber of beds; and 
(3) other factors as determined to be appro-
priate by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 7. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants 
to States for the purpose of enabling the States to carry 
out public awareness campaigns to provide public edu-
cation and increase awareness with respect to the issue 
of reducing, preventing, detecting, and controlling CHAI. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible for a grant 
under subsection (a), a State shall provide assurances to 
the Secretary that the State campaign to be conducted 
under the grant shall— 
(1) provide information on the prevention and 
control of CHAI, including appropriate antibiotic 
use, causes and symptoms, and management, treat-
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ment and reduction methods, in healthcare settings 
and non-healthcare settings; 
(2) provide information to healthcare providers 
and the public, including schools, non-profit organi-
zations, and private-sector entities; and 
(3) work with members of the community to 
promote awareness and education, including hos-
pitals, school health centers, schools, local govern-
ments, doctors’ offices, prisons, jails, and other 
public- and private-sector entities. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 8. EXPANSION AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES OF 
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RE-
GARDING COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE-AS-
SOCIATED INFECTIONS. 
(a) COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED IN-
FECTIONS INITIATIVE THROUGH THE NATIONAL INSTI-
TUTES OF HEALTH.— 
(1) EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF AC-
TIVITIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Director of Na-
tional Institutes of Health (referred to in this 
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section as the ‘‘Director’’), in coordination with 
the directors of the other national research in-
stitutes (as appropriate), may expand and in-
tensify programs of the National Institutes of 
Health with respect to research and related ac-
tivities concerning CHAI. 
(B) COORDINATION.—The directors re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) may jointly coordi-
nate the programs referred to in such para-
graph and consult with additional Federal offi-
cials, voluntary health associations, medical pro-
fessional societies, and private entities, as ap-
propriate. 
(2) PLANNING GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR 
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN CHAI.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out sub-
section (a)(1) the Director may award planning 
grants or contracts for the establishment of new 
research programs, or the enhancement of ex-
isting research programs, that focus on CHAI. 
(B) RESEARCH.—In awarding planning 
grants or contracts under paragraph (1), the 
Director may give priority to— 
(i) collaborative partnerships, which 
may include academic institutions, private 
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sector entities, or nonprofit organizations 
with a focus on infectious disease science, 
medicine, public health, veterinary medi-
cine, or other discipline impacting or influ-
enced by emerging infectious diseases; 
(ii) research on the most effective cop-
per-based applications to stem infections in 
military and civilian healthcare facilities; 
and 
(iii) research on new rapid diagnostic 
techniques for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in collaboration 
with the Director, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall 
prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of the 
Congress a report that describes the obstacles to anti-in-
fective, especially antibacterial, drug research and develop-
ment. Such report shall— 
(1) identify, in concurrence with infectious dis-
ease clinicians and appropriate professional associa-
tions, the infectious pathogens that are (or are likely 
to become) a significant threat to public health be-
cause of drug resistance or other factors; 
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(2) identify those incentives that may already 
exist through Federal programs, such as Orphan 
Product designation, including an explanation of 
how such programs would apply to infectious dis-
eases and in particular resistant bacterial infections; 
(3) recommend strategies to publicize current 
incentives available to encourage anti-infective, espe-
cially antibacterial, drug research and development; 
(4) recommend additional regulatory and legis-
lative solutions to stimulate appropriate anti-infec-
tive, especially antibacterial, drug research and de-
velopment; 
(5) update the progress made in response to the 
‘‘Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial 
Resistance’’ to include a narrative summary of ac-
tivities in addition to tables provided in existing 
progress reports, highlighting where gaps remain as 
well as obstacles to future progress; and 
(6) recommend strategies to strengthen the 
Federal response to antimicrobial resistance, as out-
lined in the Action Plan, in particular additional ac-
tions needed to address remaining gaps or obstacles 
to progress in implementing the Plan, as well as 
Federal funding needs. 
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(c) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—The coordinating com-
mittee shall make readily available to the public informa-
tion concerning the research, education, and other activi-
ties relating to CHAI, that are conducted or supported 
by the National Institutes of Health. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry 
out this section. 
SEC. 9. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON COMMUNITY 
AND HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Administrator, shall establish an interagency 
working group on CHAI to consider issues relating to the 
reduction and prevention of these infections. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The interagency working group 
shall be composed of a representative from each Federal 
agency (appointed by the head of each such agency) that 
has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, CHAI including— 
(1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices; 
(2) the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion; 
(3) the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration; 
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(4) the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality; 
(5) the Food and Drug Administration; 
(6) the National Institutes of Health; 
(7) the Department of Agriculture; 
(8) the Department of Defense; 
(9) the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
(10) the Environmental Protection Agency; and 
(11) such other Federal agencies as determined 
appropriate. 
(c) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall— 
(1) work in collaboration with the Interagency 
Task Force on Anti-microbial Resistance; 
(2) facilitate communication and partnership on 
infection prevention and quality health-related 
projects and policies; 
(3) serve as a centralized mechanism to coordi-
nate a national effort— 
(A) to discuss and evaluate evidence and 
knowledge on infection prevention; 
(B) to determine the range of effective, 
feasible, and comprehensive actions to improve 
healthcare quality related to CHAI; and 
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