42 USC CHAPTER 6A, SUBCHAPTER II, Part M: National Program of Cancer Registries
Result 1 of 1
   
 
42 USC CHAPTER 6A, SUBCHAPTER II, Part M: National Program of Cancer Registries
From Title 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARECHAPTER 6A—PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICESUBCHAPTER II—GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES

Part M—National Program of Cancer Registries

§280e. National program of cancer registries

(a) In general

(1) Statewide cancer registries

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, may make grants to States, or may make grants or enter into contracts with academic or nonprofit organizations designated by the State to operate the State's cancer registry in lieu of making a grant directly to the State, to support the operation of population-based, statewide registries to collect, for each condition specified in paragraph (2)(A), data concerning—

(A) demographic information about each case of cancer;

(B) information on the industrial or occupational history of the individuals with the cancers, to the extent such information is available from the same record;

(C) administrative information, including date of diagnosis and source of information;

(D) pathological data characterizing the cancer, including the cancer site, stage of disease (pursuant to Staging Guide), incidence, and type of treatment; and

(E) other elements determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(2) Cancer; benign brain-related tumors

(A) In general

For purposes of paragraph (1), the conditions referred to in this paragraph are the following:

(i) Each form of in-situ and invasive cancer (with the exception of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin), including malignant brain-related tumors.

(ii) Benign brain-related tumors.

(B) Brain-related tumor

For purposes of subparagraph (A):

(i) The term "brain-related tumor" means a listed primary tumor (whether malignant or benign) occurring in any of the following sites:

(I) The brain, meninges, spinal cord, cauda equina, a cranial nerve or nerves, or any other part of the central nervous system.

(II) The pituitary gland, pineal gland, or craniopharyngeal duct.


(ii) The term "listed", with respect to a primary tumor, means a primary tumor that is listed in the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (commonly referred to as the ICD–O).

(iii) The term "International Classification of Diseases for Oncology" means a classification system that includes topography (site) information and histology (cell type information) developed by the World Health Organization, in collaboration with international centers, to promote international comparability in the collection, classification, processing, and presentation of cancer statistics. The ICD–O system is a supplement to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known as the ICD) and is the standard coding system used by cancer registries worldwide. Such term includes any modification made to such system for purposes of the United States. Such term further includes any published classification system that is internationally recognized as a successor to the classification system referred to in the first sentence of this clause.

(C) Statewide cancer registry

References in this section to cancer registries shall be considered to be references to registries described in this subsection.

(b) Matching funds

(1) In general

The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the State, or the academic or nonprofit private organization designated by the State to operate the cancer registry of the State, involved agrees, with respect to the costs of the program, to make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions toward such costs in an amount that is not less than 25 percent of such costs or $1 for every $3 of Federal funds provided in the grant.

(2) Determination of amount of non-Federal contribution; maintenance of effort

(A) Non-Federal contributions required in paragraph (1) may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services. Amounts provided by the Federal Government, or services assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal Government, may not be included in determining the amount of such non-Federal contributions.

(B) With respect to a State in which the purpose described in subsection (a) is to be carried out, the Secretary, in making a determination of the amount of non-Federal contributions provided under paragraph (1), may include only such contributions as are in excess of the amount of such contributions made by the State toward the collection of data on cancer for the fiscal year preceding the first year for which a grant under subsection (a) is made with respect to the State. The Secretary may decrease the amount of non-Federal contributions that otherwise would have been required by this subsection in those cases in which the State can demonstrate that decreasing such amount is appropriate because of financial hardship.

(c) Eligibility for grants

(1) In general

No grant shall be made by the Secretary under subsection (a) unless an application has been submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary. Such application shall be in such form, submitted in such a manner, and be accompanied by such information, as the Secretary may specify. No such application may be approved unless it contains assurances that the applicant will use the funds provided only for the purposes specified in the approved application and in accordance with the requirements of this section, that the application will establish such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure proper disbursement and accounting of Federal funds paid to the applicant under subsection (a), and that the applicant will comply with the peer review requirements under sections 289 and 289a of this title.

(2) Assurances

Each applicant, prior to receiving Federal funds under subsection (a), shall provide assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that the applicant will—

(A) provide for the establishment of a registry in accordance with subsection (a);

(B) comply with appropriate standards of completeness, timeliness, and quality of population-based cancer registry data;

(C) provide for the annual publication of reports of cancer data under subsection (a); and

(D) provide for the authorization under State law of the statewide cancer registry, including promulgation of regulations providing—

(i) a means to assure complete reporting of cancer cases (as described in subsection (a)) to the statewide cancer registry by hospitals or other facilities providing screening, diagnostic or therapeutic services to patients with respect to cancer;

(ii) a means to assure the complete reporting of cancer cases (as defined in subsection (a)) to the statewide cancer registry by physicians, surgeons, and all other health care practitioners diagnosing or providing treatment for cancer patients, except for cases directly referred to or previously admitted to a hospital or other facility providing screening, diagnostic or therapeutic services to patients in that State and reported by those facilities;

(iii) a means for the statewide cancer registry to access all records of physicians and surgeons, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and all other facilities, individuals, or agencies providing such services to patients which would identify cases of cancer or would establish characteristics of the cancer, treatment of the cancer, or medical status of any identified patient;

(iv) for the reporting of cancer case data to the statewide cancer registry in such a format, with such data elements, and in accordance with such standards of quality timeliness and completeness, as may be established by the Secretary;

(v) for the protection of the confidentiality of all cancer case data reported to the statewide cancer registry, including a prohibition on disclosure to any person of information reported to the statewide cancer registry that identifies, or could lead to the identification of, an individual cancer patient, except for disclosure to other State cancer registries and local and State health officers;

(vi) for a means by which confidential case data may in accordance with State law be disclosed to cancer researchers for the purposes of cancer prevention, control and research;

(vii) for the authorization or the conduct, by the statewide cancer registry or other persons and organizations, of studies utilizing statewide cancer registry data, including studies of the sources and causes of cancer, evaluations of the cost, quality, efficacy, and appropriateness of diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventative services and programs relating to cancer, and any other clinical, epidemiological, or other cancer research; and

(viii) for protection for individuals complying with the law, including provisions specifying that no person shall be held liable in any civil action with respect to a cancer case report provided to the statewide cancer registry, or with respect to access to cancer case information provided to the statewide cancer registry.

(d) Relationship to certain programs

(1) In general

This section may not be construed to act as a replacement for or diminishment of the program carried out by the Director of the National Cancer Institute and designated by such Director as the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER).

(2) Supplanting of activities

In areas where both such programs exist, the Secretary shall ensure that SEER support is not supplanted and that any additional activities are consistent with the guidelines provided for in subsection (c)(2)(C) and (D) and are appropriately coordinated with the existing SEER program.

(3) Transfer of responsibility

The Secretary may not transfer administration responsibility for such SEER program from such Director.

(4) Coordination

To encourage the greatest possible efficiency and effectiveness of Federally supported efforts with respect to the activities described in this subsection, the Secretary shall take steps to assure the appropriate coordination of programs supported under this part with existing Federally supported cancer registry programs.

(e) Requirement regarding certain study on breast cancer

In the case of a grant under subsection (a) to any State specified in subsection (b) of section 280e–3 of this title, the Secretary may establish such conditions regarding the receipt of the grant as the Secretary determines are necessary to facilitate the collection of data for the study carried out under such section.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399B, formerly §399H, as added Pub. L. 102–515, §3, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3372; renumbered §399B and amended Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title V, §502(2)(A), (B), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1115; Pub. L. 107–260, §2(a), Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1743.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–260 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted par. (1) heading, substituted "population-based, statewide registries to collect, for each condition specified in paragraph (2)(A), data" for "population-based, statewide cancer registries in order to collect, for each form of in-situ and invasive cancer (with the exception of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin), data", redesignated former pars. (1) to (5) as subpars. (A) to (E) of par. (1), respectively, and added par. (2).

2000—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106–310, §502(2)(B), substituted "subsection (b) of section 280e–3 of this title" for "section 280e–3(b) of this title" and "such section" for "section 399C".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Centers for Disease Control changed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Pub. L. 102–531, title III, §312, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3504.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–260, §2(b), Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1744, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] apply to grants under section 399B of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 280e] for fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years, except that, in the case of a State that received such a grant for fiscal year 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may delay the applicability of such amendments to the State for not more than 12 months if the Secretary determines that compliance with such amendments requires the enactment of a statute by the State or the issuance of State regulations."

Congressional Findings and Purpose

Pub. L. 102–515, §2, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3372, provided that:

"(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—

"(1) cancer control efforts, including prevention and early detection, are best addressed locally by State health departments that can identify unique needs;

"(2) cancer control programs and existing statewide population-based cancer registries have identified cancer incidence and cancer mortality rates that indicate the burden of cancer for Americans is substantial and varies widely by geographic location and by ethnicity;

"(3) statewide cancer incidence and cancer mortality data, can be used to identify cancer trends, patterns, and variation for directing cancer control intervention;

"(4) the American Association of Central Cancer Registries (AACCR) cites that of the 50 States, approximately 38 have established cancer registries, many are not statewide and 10 have no cancer registry; and

"(5) AACCR also cites that of the 50 States, 39 collect data on less than 100 percent of their population, and less than half have adequate resources for insuring minimum standards for quality and for completeness of case information.

"(b) Purpose.—It is the purpose of this Act [enacting this part and provisions set out as a note under section 201 of this title] to establish a national program of cancer registries."

§280e–1. Planning grants regarding registries

(a) In general

(1) States

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, may make grants to States for the purpose of developing plans that meet the assurances required by the Secretary under section 280e(c)(2) of this title.

(2) Other entities

For the purpose described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may make grants to public entities other than States and to nonprofit private entities. Such a grant may be made to an entity only if the State in which the purpose is to be carried out has certified that the State approves the entity as qualified to carry out the purpose.

(b) Application

The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary, the application contains the certification required in subsection (a)(2) (if the application is for a grant under such subsection), and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399C, formerly §399I, as added Pub. L. 102–515, §3, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3375; renumbered §399C, Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title V, §502(2)(A), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1115.)


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Centers for Disease Control changed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Pub. L. 102–531, title III, §312, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3504.

§280e–2. Technical assistance in operations of statewide cancer registries

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, may, directly or through grants and contracts, or both, provide technical assistance to the States in the establishment and operation of statewide registries, including assistance in the development of model legislation for statewide cancer registries and assistance in establishing a computerized reporting and data processing system.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399D, formerly §399J, as added Pub. L. 102–515, §3, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3376; renumbered §399D, Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title V, §502(2)(A), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1115.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 399D of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 519, and is classified to section 290bb–25 of this title.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Centers for Disease Control changed to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Pub. L. 102–531, title III, §312, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3504.

§280e–3. Study in certain States to determine factors contributing to elevated breast cancer mortality rates

(a) In general

Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Cancer Institute, shall conduct a study for the purpose of determining the factors contributing to the fact that breast cancer mortality rates in the States specified in subsection (b) are elevated compared to rates in other States.

(b) Relevant States

The States referred to in subsection (a) are Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

(c) Cooperation of State

The Secretary may conduct the study required in subsection (a) in a State only if the State agrees to cooperate with the Secretary in the conduct of the study, including providing information from any registry operated by the State pursuant to section 280e(a) of this title.

(d) Planning, commencement, and duration

The Secretary shall, during each of the fiscal years 1993 and 1994, develop a plan for conducting the study required in subsection (a). The study shall be initiated by the Secretary not later than fiscal year 1994, and the collection of data under the study may continue through fiscal year 1998.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399E, formerly §399K, as added Pub. L. 102–515, §3, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3376; renumbered §399E and amended Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title V, §502(2)(A), (C), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1115; Pub. L. 109–482, title I, §104(b)(2)(A), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3693.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–482 struck out heading and text of subsec. (e). Text read as follows: "Not later than September 30, 1999, the Secretary shall complete the study required in subsection (a) of this section and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, a report describing the findings and recommendations made as a result of the study."

2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–310, §502(2)(C), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 280e(a) of this title.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2007 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–482 applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as a note under section 281 of this title.

Potential Environmental and Other Risks Contributing to Incidence of Breast Cancer

Pub. L. 103–43, title XIX, §1911, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 205, provided that Director of the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was to conduct case-control study to assess biological markers of environmental and other potential risk factors contributing to incidence of breast cancer in specified counties in State of New York and northeastern United States that had highest age-adjusted mortality rate of such cancer, and to report results of such study to Congress not later than 30 months after June 10, 1993.

§280e–3a. National childhood cancer registry

(a) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may make awards to State cancer registries to enhance and expand infrastructure to collect information to better understand the epidemiology of cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults. Such registries may be updated to include each occurrence of such cancers within a period of time designated by the Secretary.

(b) Activities

The grants described in subsection (a) may be used for—

(1) identifying, recruiting, and training potential sources for reporting childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer cases;

(2) developing practices to ensure early inclusion of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer cases in State cancer registries through the use of electronic reporting;

(3) collecting and submitting deidentified data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for inclusion in a national database that includes information on childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers; and

(4) improving State cancer registries and the database described in paragraph (3), as appropriate, including to support the early inclusion of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer cases.

(c) Coordination

To encourage the greatest possible efficiency and effectiveness of federally supported efforts with respect to the activities described in this section, the Secretary shall ensure the appropriate coordination of programs supported under this section with other federally supported cancer registry programs and the activities under section 285a–11(a) of this title, as appropriate.

(d) Informed consent and privacy requirements and coordination with existing programs

The activities described in this section shall be subject to section 552a of title 5, the regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, applicable Federal and State informed consent regulations, any other applicable Federal and State laws relating to the privacy of patient information, and section 280e(d)(4) of this title.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399E–1, as added Pub. L. 110–285, §4(b)(1), July 29, 2008, 122 Stat. 2630; amended Pub. L. 115–180, title I, §102(a), June 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 1385.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (d), is section 264(c) of Pub. L. 104–191, which is set out as a note under section 1320d–2 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–180, §102(a)(1), substituted "may make awards to State cancer registries" for "shall award a grant", "collect information to better understand the epidemiology of cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults" for "track the epidemiology of pediatric cancer into a comprehensive nationwide registry of actual occurrences of pediatric cancer", and "Such registries may be updated to include each occurrence of such cancers within a period of time designated by the Secretary." for "Such registry shall be updated to include an actual occurrence within weeks of the date of such occurrence."

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 115–180, §102(a)(3), added subsecs. (b) and (c). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–180, §102(a)(2), (4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d) and substituted "activities described in this section" for "registry established pursuant to subsection (a)".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Findings and Purposes

Pub. L. 110–285, §§2, 3, July 29, 2008, 122 Stat. 2628, provided that:

"SEC. 2. FINDINGS

"Congress makes the following findings:

"(1) Cancer kills more children than any other disease.

"(2) Each year cancer kills more children between 1 and 20 years of age than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS, combined.

"(3) Every year, over 12,500 young people are diagnosed with cancer.

"(4) Each year about 2,300 children and teenagers die from cancer.

"(5) One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before age 20.

"(6) Some forms of childhood cancer have proven to be so resistant that even in spite of the great research strides made, most of those children die. Up to 75 percent of the children with cancer can now be cured.

"(7) The causes of most childhood cancers are not yet known.

"(8) Childhood cancers are mostly those of the white blood cells (leukemias), brain, bone, the lymphatic system, and tumors of the muscles, kidneys, and nervous system. Each of these behaves differently, but all are characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells.

"(9) Eighty percent of the children who are diagnosed with cancer have disease which has already spread to distant sites in the body.

"(10) Ninety percent of children with a form of pediatric cancer are treated at one of the more than 200 Children's Oncology Group member institutions throughout the United States.

"SEC. 3. PURPOSES

"It is the purpose of this Act [see Short Title of 2008 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title] to authorize appropriations to—

"(1) encourage the support for pediatric cancer research and other activities related to pediatric cancer;

"(2) establish a comprehensive national childhood cancer registry; and

"(3) provide informational services to patients and families affected by childhood cancer."

§280e–4. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Registries

For the purpose of carrying out this part (other than section 280e–3a of this title), there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 2003. Of the amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence for any such fiscal year, the Secretary may obligate not more than 25 percent for carrying out section 280e–1 of this title, and not more than 10 percent may be expended for assessing the accuracy, completeness and quality of data collected, and not more than 10 percent of which is to be expended under section 280e–2 of this title.

(b) Breast cancer study

Of the amounts appropriated for the National Cancer Institute under subpart 1 of part C of subchapter III for any fiscal year in which the study required in section 280e–3 of this title is being carried out, the Secretary shall expend not less than $1,000,000 for the study.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, §399F, formerly §399L, as added Pub. L. 102–515, §3, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3376; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, §2003, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 208; Pub. L. 103–183, title VII, §705(c), Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2241; Pub. L. 105–340, title II, §202, Oct. 31, 1998, 112 Stat. 3194; renumbered §399F and amended Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title V, §502(2)(A), (D), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1115; Pub. L. 110–285, §4(b)(2), July 29, 2008, 122 Stat. 2631.)


Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 399F of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 399G and is classified to section 280e–11 of this title.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–285 inserted "(other than section 280e–3a of this title)" after "this part".

2000—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–310, §502(2)(D)(ii), substituted "section 280e–2 of this title" for "subsection 280e–2 of this title".

Pub. L. 106–310, §502(2)(D)(i), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 280e–1 of this title.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–310, §502(2)(D)(iii), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 280e–3 of this title.

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–340 substituted "2003" for "1998".

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–183 substituted "through 1998" for "through 1996".

Pub. L. 103–43 substituted "there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1996" for "the Secretary may use $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993 through 1997" in first sentence and "Of the amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence" for "Out of any amounts used" in second sentence.

§280e–5. Voluntary registry for firefighter cancer incidence

(a) In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall develop and maintain, directly or through a grant or cooperative agreement, a voluntary registry of firefighters (referred to in this section as the Firefighter Registry) to collect relevant health and occupational information of such firefighters for purposes of determining cancer incidence.

(b) Use of Firefighter Registry

The Firefighter Registry may be used for the following purposes:

(1) To improve data collection and data coordination activities related to the nationwide monitoring of the incidence of cancer among firefighters.

(2) To collect, consolidate, and maintain, consistent with subsection (g), epidemiological information and analyses related to cancer incidence and trends among firefighters 1

(c) Relevant data

(1) Data collection

In carrying out the voluntary data collection for purposes of inclusion under the Firefighter Registry, the Secretary may collect the following:

(A) Information, as determined by the Secretary under subsection (d)(1), of volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters, independent of cancer status or diagnosis.

(B) Individual risk factors and occupational history of firefighters.

(C) Information, if available, related to—

(i) basic demographic information, including—

(I) the age of the firefighter involved during the relevant dates of occupation as a firefighter; and

(II) the age of cancer diagnosis;


(ii) the status of the firefighter as either volunteer, paid-on-call, or career firefighter;

(iii) the total number of years of occupation as a firefighter and a detailing of additional employment experience, whether concurrent, before, or anytime thereafter;

(iv)(I) the approximate number of fire incidents attended, including information related to the type of fire incidents and the role of the firefighter in responding to the incident; or

(II) in the case of a firefighter for whom information on such number and type is unavailable, an estimate of such number and type based on the method developed under subsection (d)(1)(D); and

(v) other medical information and health history, including additional risk factors, as appropriate, and other information relevant to a cancer incidence study of firefighters.

(2) Information on diagnoses and treatment

In carrying out paragraph (1), with respect to diagnoses and treatment of firefighters with cancer, the Secretary shall, as appropriate, enable the Firefighter Registry to electronically connect to State-based cancer registries, for a purpose described by clause (vi) or (vii) of section 280e(c)(2)(D) of this title, to obtain—

(A) date of diagnoses and source of information; and

(B) pathological data characterizing the cancer, including cancer site, state of disease (pursuant to Staging Guide), incidence, and type of treatment.

(d) Firefighter Registry coordination strategy

(1) Required strategy

The Secretary shall, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders identified in subsection (e), including epidemiologists and pathologists, develop a strategy to coordinate data collection activities, including within existing State registries, for inclusion in the Firefighter Registry established under this Act. The strategy may include the following:

(A) Increasing awareness of the Firefighter Registry and encouraging participation among volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters.

(B) Consideration of unique data collection needs that may arise to generate a statistically reliable representation of minority, female, and volunteer firefighters, including methods, as needed, to encourage participation from such populations.

(C) Information on how the Secretary will store data described in subsection (c)(1) and provide electronic access to relevant health information described in subsection (c)(2).

(D) Working in consultation with the experts described in subsection (e), a reliable and standardized method for estimating the number of fire incidents attended by a firefighter as well as the type of fire incident so attended in the case such firefighter is unable to provide such information.

(2) Report to Congress

The Secretary shall submit the strategy described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate not later than 30 days after the date of the completion of the strategy.

(3) Guidance for inclusion and maintenance of data on firefighters

The Secretary shall develop, in consultation with the stakeholders identified in subsection (e), State health agencies, State departments of homeland security, and volunteer, paid-on-call, combination, and career firefighting agencies, a strategy for inclusion of firefighters in the registry that are representative of the general population of firefighters, that outlines the following:

(A) How new information about firefighters will be submitted to the Firefighter Registry for inclusion.

(B) How information about firefighters will be maintained and updated in the Firefighter Registry over time.

(C) A method for estimating the number of fire incidents attended by a firefighter as well as the type of fire incident so attended in the case such firefighter is unable to provide such information.

(D) Further information, as deemed necessary by the Secretary.

(e) Consultation and report

The Secretary shall consult with non-Federal experts on the Firefighter Registry established under this section, and shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes, as appropriate, information on goals achieved and improvements needed to strengthen the Firefighter Registry. Such non-Federal experts shall include the following:

(1) Public health experts with experience in developing and maintaining cancer registries.

(2) Epidemiologists with experience in studying cancer incidence.

(3) Clinicians with experience in diagnosing and treating cancer incidence.

(4) Active and retired volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters as well as relevant national fire and emergency response organizations.

(f) Research availability

Subject to subsection (g), the Secretary shall ensure that information and analysis in the Firefighter Registry are available, as appropriate, to the public, including researchers, firefighters, and national fire service organizations.

(g) Privacy

In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that information in and analysis of the Firefighter Registry are made available in a manner that, at a minimum, protects personal privacy to the extent required by applicable Federal and State privacy law.

(h) Authorization of funds

To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

(Pub. L. 115–194, §2, July 7, 2018, 132 Stat. 1506.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsecs. (d)(1) and (g), is Pub. L. 115–194, July 7, 2018, 132 Stat. 1506, known as the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018, which enacted this section and provisions set out as a note under section 201 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2018 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2018, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.