in subsection (a) may seek reimbursement for such 
leave from the compensation program under section 
224(q). 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A Federal agency 
that provides leave under this section shall treat 
such leave as paid administrative leave. 
‘‘SEC. 2905. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) SUPPLIES OF VACCINIA IMMUNE GLOBULIN.—
If the Secretary declares vaccinia vaccine to be a covered 
countermeasure under section 224(p), the Secretary shall 
ensure that adequate supplies of vaccinia immune globulin 
are made available to any individual to whom vaccinia vac-
cine is administered during the period of such declaration. 
‘‘(b) UNIFORM SYSTEM OF REPORTING.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a uniform system for reporting adverse re-
sponses to any covered countermeasure against 
smallpox to the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act and 
every year in which covered countermeasures against 
smallpox are administered, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives, a report that describes for the preceding 
year—
‘‘(A) the number of individuals to whom a 
covered countermeasure against smallpox was 
administered; and 
‘‘(B) the number and kind of adverse reac-
tions caused by the administration of a covered 
countermeasure against smallpox. 
‘‘SEC. 2906. PROVISION OF NEEDLES. 
‘‘The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention shall provide needles to States that receive a 
grant under section 2902 for the purpose of administering 
vaccinia vaccine in accordance with section 2902(d)(5).’’. 
SEC. 3. HEALTH CARE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND 
FIRST RESPONDERS SUFFERING ADVERSE 
REACTIONS 
OR 
COMPLICATIONS 
FROM 
SMALLPOX 
VACCINE; 
CONTINUED 
INSUR-
ANCE COVERAGE. 
(a) PAYMENTS FOR PROVISION OF MEDICAL ASSIST-
ANCE.—Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (as 
added by section 2) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
‘‘SEC. 2907. HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING 
ADVERSE REACTIONS OR COMPLICATIONS 
FROM SMALLPOX VACCINE. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall pay to 
each State with an agreement described in sub-
section (b) an amount equal to the costs incurred by 
that State to provide medical assistance described in 
subsection (b)(1), subject to paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON PAYMENT.—The Secretary 
shall not make any payment under paragraph (1) 
for costs for medical assistance insofar as such costs 
may reasonably be reimbursed from a third party 
under the terms of the agreement described in sub-
section (b)(2). Any payment under this section to a 
State with respect to medical assistance shall be con-
ditioned on reimbursement to the Secretary when 
notice or other information is received that payment 
for such medical assistance has been or could be 
made by a third party under subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENT.—An agreement described in this 
subsection is an agreement between a State and the Sec-
retary in which the State—
‘‘(1) agrees to provide such medical assistance 
as may be medically necessary to—
‘‘(A) any health care worker or first re-
sponder who—
‘‘(i) has suffered any adverse reaction 
or complication as a result of a covered 
countermeasure against smallpox or expo-
sure to vaccinia virus or any other sub-
stance administered for the prevention or 
treatment of smallpox; and 
‘‘(ii) has not received compensation 
under the National Smallpox Vaccine In-
jury Compensation Program established 
under section 224; and 
‘‘(B) any individual who—
‘‘(i) has suffered any adverse reaction 
or complication as a result of contact with 
another person who received a covered 
countermeasure; and 
‘‘(ii) has not received compensation 
under the National Smallpox Vaccine In-
jury Compensation Program established 
under section 224; and 
‘‘(2) agrees to take all reasonable measures to 
obtain reimbursement for the costs of providing such 
assistance from any third party (including health in-
surers and group health plans (as defined in section 
2791)) with responsibility for such costs. 
‘‘(c) STATE ENTITLEMENT.—This section constitutes 
budget authority in advance of appropriations Acts and 
represents the obligation of the Federal Government to 
provide for the payment to States of amounts provided 
under this section. 
‘‘(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—
‘‘(1) INSURANCE COVERAGE.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to invalidate or otherwise 
abridge any provision of law or any contractual obli-
gation that otherwise obligates a health insurance 
issuer to provide reimbursement or otherwise defray 
the cost to an individual of health care needed to 
treat the health consequences of the administration 
of or exposure to a covered countermeasure against 
smallpox or exposure to vaccinia virus. 
‘‘(2) HEALTH
CARE
FACILITIES.—Nothing in 
this section shall be construed to invalidate or other-
wise abridge any provision of law or any contractual 
obligation that otherwise obligates a health care fa-
cility to provide health care or other health services 
to an individual that are needed to treat the health 
consequences of the administration of a covered
countermeasure against smallpox or exposure to 
vaccinia virus. 
‘‘(3) EMPLOYERS.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to invalidate or otherwise abridge 
any provision of law or any contractual obligation 
that otherwise obligates an employer to provide 
leave, wages, vacation time, or any other benefit to 
an individual. 
‘‘(4) STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.—Noth-
ing in this section shall be construed to invalidate or 
otherwise abridge any provision of law or any con-
tractual obligation that otherwise obligates a State 
or local government to provide health care, workers’ 
compensation, or any other benefit to an individual. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZING UTILIZATION OF MEDICAID IN 
PROVIDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to prevent a State from utilizing 
its medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Secu-
rity Act in order to provide medical assistance under this 
section. The Secretary shall waive such provisions of such 
Act as are necessary to permit a State to so utilize such 
program under this subsection.’’. 
(b) CONTINUED
COVERAGE
OF
BENEFITS
FOR 
SMALLPOX VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS.—