CARE Act

Summary

Creates a department-wide after-action program at HHS to review and improve responses to declared public health emergencies and requires a department-wide risk communication strategy for infectious diseases and other public health risks. The law sets deadlines for implementation, requires coordination with federal, state, tribal, territorial, local, and nongovernmental partners, authorizes modest funding for start-up reports and activities, and allows the HHS Inspector General to evaluate the program and report to Congress.

Key Points

• Creates a department-wide after-action program at HHS to review responses to declared public health emergencies and to implement improvements.
• Requires HHS to develop a department-wide risk communication strategy for infectious diseases and other public health risks, prioritizing clarity and at-risk populations.
• HHS must begin implementing the risk communication strategy within 1 year and the after-action program within 2 years of enactment.
• Authorizes $3.5 million (available until expended) for core program activities and initial reports, and allows additional sums for Inspector General evaluations.
• Requires coordination with federal partners, states, tribes, territories, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations.
• HHS Inspector General is authorized to evaluate the program and report findings to Congress.
• After-action reports may cover a wide set of topics such as incident management, communications, staffing and surge capacity, supply chains, clinical protocols, telehealth, and recovery strategies.
• The measure focuses on planning, coordination, communication, and learning from past emergency responses rather than imposing new mandates on states or private entities.

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