U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the nation’s public health data systems to ensure high quality, timely and accurate information sharing and protect the public from health threats that may include viruses, prescription drug abuse and other potentially preventable health problems.
 
Isakson introduced the bipartisan Saving Lives Through Better Data Act, S.1793, with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Angus King, I-Maine.
 
“The United States is behind the curve on the collection and modernization of public health data that could improve health and even save lives,” said Isakson, a member of two Senate committees that oversee health care issues. “The Saving Lives Through Better Data Act will help public health agencies like the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improve tracking, data-sharing and reporting on public health threats through eliminating wasteful duplication, enhancing public-private partnerships, and other avenues to improve and modernize care in the 21st century.”
 
The Saving Lives Through Better Data Act would improve public health data infrastructure by investing in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and authorizing $100 million each year for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to:
 
·         Award grants to public health departments to improve data collection and analysis, simplify provider reporting, and support earlier disease detection and response.

·         Improve interoperability and eliminate duplicative requirements for public health data systems utilized by the CDC.

·         Develop public-private partnerships to support expansion and modernization of electronic case reporting and public health data systems.

·         Develop a strategy and implementation plan to update and improve the CDC’s public health data systems and support improvement of state, local, tribal and territorial public health data systems.