Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Grants: Support for Prevention and Public Health Innovation

Sec. 4304 Epidemiology-Laboratory Capacity Grants

• Grants. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must, pending appropriation availability, create an Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant Program. Grants under this program will be available to State and local health departments and tribal organizations, subject to criteria established by the Secretary. Additionally, the Secretary has discretion to award grants to academic centers that provide support to any of the eligible entities.152
• Requirements. Grantees must use the funds to improve the surveillance of and response to infectious diseases and other public health concerns by: (1) improving the “epidemiologic capacity to identify and monitor the occurrence of” diseases; (2) “enhancing laboratory practice as well as systems to report test orders and results electronically;” (3) “Improving information systems including developing and maintaining an information exchange using national guidelines and complying with capacities and functions determined by an advisory council established and appointed by the Director;” and (4) “developing and implementing prevention and control strategies.”153

Funding. Congress appropriated 190 million for the fiscal years 2010-2013. The Secretary must allocate a minimum of 95 million to all of the identified activities, a minimum of 60 million each year for information systems improvement, and a minimum of 32 million each year improving electronic reporting systems.154