U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 247d-7b. Emergency system for advance registration of health professions volunteers

(a) In general

Not later than 12 months after December 19, 2006, the Secretary shall link existing State verification systems to maintain a single national interoperable network of systems, each system being maintained by a State or group of States, for the purpose of verifying the credentials and licenses of health care professionals who volunteer to provide health services during a public health emergency.

(b) Requirements

The interoperable network of systems established under subsection (a) (referred to in this section as the “verification network”) shall include—

(1) with respect to each volunteer health professional included in the verification network—

(A) information necessary for the rapid identification of, and communication with, such professionals; and

(B) the credentials, certifications, licenses, and relevant training of such individuals; and

(2) the name of each member of the Medical Reserve Corps, the National Disaster Medical System, and any other relevant federally-sponsored or administered programs determined necessary by the Secretary.

The Secretary may make grants and provide technical assistance to States and other public or nonprofit private entities for activities relating to the verification network developed under subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Accessibility

The Secretary shall ensure that the verification network is electronically accessible by State, local, and tribal health departments and can be linked with the identification cards under section 300hh–15 of this title.

(e) Confidentiality

The Secretary shall establish and require the application of and compliance with measures to ensure the effective security of, integrity of, and access to the data included in the verification network.

(f) Coordination

The Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess the feasibility of integrating the verification network under this section with the VetPro system of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Emergency Responder Credentialing System of the Department of Homeland Security. The Secretary shall, if feasible, integrate the verification network under this section with such VetPro system and the National Emergency Responder Credentialing System.

(g) Updating of information

The States that are participants in the verification network shall, on at least a quarterly basis, work with the Director to provide for the updating of the information contained in the verification network.

(h) Clarification

Inclusion of a health professional in the verification network shall not constitute appointment of such individual as a Federal employee for any purpose, either under section 300hh–11 (c) of this title or otherwise. Such appointment may only be made under section 300hh–11 or 300hh–15 of this title.

(i) Health care provider licenses

The Secretary shall encourage States to establish and implement mechanisms to waive the application of licensing requirements applicable to health professionals, who are seeking to provide medical services (within their scope of practice), during a national, State, local, or tribal public health emergency upon verification that such health professionals are licensed and in good standing in another State and have not been disciplined by any State health licensing or disciplinary board.

(j) Rule of construction

This section may not be construed as authorizing the Secretary to issue requirements regarding the provision by the States of credentials, licenses, accreditations, or hospital privileges.

(k) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2011.

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