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S. 732

Comprehensive Child Immunization Act of 1993

Comprehensive Child Immunization Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate establishment of a list of the vaccines that the Secretary of Health and Human Services recommends for administration to all children and a recommended administration schedule. Makes the list and schedule subordinate to State law.

Mandates allotments to States. Provides for the establishment of State registries to monitor the immunization status of all children. Requires States to: (1) allow parents to opt out of the registry; and (2) monitor and enforce compliance with these provisions by health care providers. Authorizes appropriations.

Establishes a national immunization surveillance program to assess the effects of these provisions, provide technical assistance to States, and receive aggregate epidemiologic data collected by States. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the distribution, without charge, of pediatric vaccines purchased by the Secretary to health care providers who are: (1) members of a uniformed service; (2) U.S. officers or employees; (3) federally qualified health centers; (4) migrant or community health centers; (5) entities providing health services for the homeless or for residents of public housing; or (6) public or nonprofit entities receiving funds under provisions of the Social Security Act relating to special projects of regional and national significance. Prohibits a provider receiving the vaccine from imposing a charge for the vaccine but allows a charge for the actual costs of the administration of the vaccine.

Mandates activities to improve Federal, State, and local vaccine delivery systems and immunization outreach and education efforts, including a National Immunization Public Awareness Campaign and incorporation of immunization status assessments and referral in the application process for various types of Federal assistance. Authorizes grants to States to develop, revise, and implement immunization improvement plans. Requires States to establish child immunization rate goals. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires States to report annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with an estimate of the percentage of two-year-olds who have received specified immunizations, mandating: (1) grants to States that exceed certain percentages; and (2) reinvestment of specified grant percentages in immunization activities.

Mandates: (1) a biennial report on the costs, efficiency, and effectiveness of procedures established to deliver vaccine to health care providers; and (2) a report by the National Academy of Sciences on the role of the National Vaccine Program established under this title in achieving progress toward the established immunization goals for the year 2000.

(Sec. 3) Requires that the Vaccine Injury Table of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program include any vaccine on the list established under this subtitle. Allows a special master to award reasonable attorney's fees whether or not an election has been made to file a civil action regarding a vaccine injury compensation petition. Requires that compensation under the Program be used as determined by the special master to be in the best interests of the petitioner. (Current law requires that the compensation be used, with the consent of the petitioner, as determined by the special master to be in the best interests of the petitioner.) Sets time limits regarding applications for attorney's fees and costs. Authorizes appropriations for payment of compensation under the Program regarding vaccines administered before the effective date of the Program. Revises requirements regarding: (1) time limits on actions when the Table is revised; and (2) extensions of time limits for decisions. Mandates an annual report on amounts collected under provisions regarding subrogation of petitioners' rights. Requires the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to monitor the balance of the Vaccine Injury Trust Fund and recommend changes in the tax per dose. Revises requirements regarding vaccine information materials. Authorizes appropriations from the Trust Fund for administering the National Vaccine Program.

(Sec. 4) Removes provisions authorizing grants for research on the prevention and control of diseases through vaccination and related demonstration projects, public information programs, and health professionals training and clinical skills improvement.

(Sec. 5) Allows malpractice coverage, in certain circumstances, for officers, employees, and contractors of entities that are migrant or community health centers or that provide health services for the homeless or for residents of public housing when they provide services to individuals who are not patients of the entities. Requires that appropriations for a malpractice claim fund be made separate from the appropriations for such entities.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA](D-MA)Sponsor
36 cosponsors27 D9 R
36cosponsors2committees17actions1amendments71subjects
  1. CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  2. IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  3. FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  4. Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  5. FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  6. Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  7. Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  8. Floor

    The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.

  9. Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S15077-15084)

  10. Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.

  11. Committee

    Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  12. Committee14000

    Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  13. Committee

    Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  14. Committee

    Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  15. IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  16. IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4316, S4319)

  17. IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Nov 4, 199335

Comprehensive Child Immunization Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate establishment of a list of the vaccines that the Secretary of Health and Human Services recommends for administration to all children and a recommended administration schedule. Makes the list and schedule subordinate to State law.

Mandates allotments to States. Provides for the establishment of State registries to monitor the immunization status of all children. Requires States to: (1) allow parents to opt out of the registry; and (2) monitor and enforce compliance with these provisions by health care providers. Authorizes appropriations.

Establishes a national immunization surveillance program to assess the effects of these provisions, provide technical assistance to States, and receive aggregate epidemiologic data collected by States. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the distribution, without charge, of pediatric vaccines purchased by the Secretary to health care providers who are: (1) members of a uniformed service; (2) U.S. officers or employees; (3) federally qualified health centers; (4) migrant or community health centers; (5) entities providing health services for the homeless or for residents of public housing; or (6) public or nonprofit entities receiving funds under provisions of the Social Security Act relating to special projects of regional and national significance. Prohibits a provider receiving the vaccine from imposing a charge for the vaccine but allows a charge for the actual costs of the administration of the vaccine.

Mandates activities to improve Federal, State, and local vaccine delivery systems and immunization outreach and education efforts, including a National Immunization Public Awareness Campaign and incorporation of immunization status assessments and referral in the application process for various types of Federal assistance. Authorizes grants to States to develop, revise, and implement immunization improvement plans. Requires States to establish child immunization rate goals. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires States to report annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with an estimate of the percentage of two-year-olds who have received specified immunizations, mandating: (1) grants to States that exceed certain percentages; and (2) reinvestment of specified grant percentages in immunization activities.

Mandates: (1) a biennial report on the costs, efficiency, and effectiveness of procedures established to deliver vaccine to health care providers; and (2) a report by the National Academy of Sciences on the role of the National Vaccine Program established under this title in achieving progress toward the established immunization goals for the year 2000.

(Sec. 3) Requires that the Vaccine Injury Table of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program include any vaccine on the list established under this subtitle. Allows a special master to award reasonable attorney's fees whether or not an election has been made to file a civil action regarding a vaccine injury compensation petition. Requires that compensation under the Program be used as determined by the special master to be in the best interests of the petitioner. (Current law requires that the compensation be used, with the consent of the petitioner, as determined by the special master to be in the best interests of the petitioner.) Sets time limits regarding applications for attorney's fees and costs. Authorizes appropriations for payment of compensation under the Program regarding vaccines administered before the effective date of the Program. Revises requirements regarding: (1) time limits on actions when the Table is revised; and (2) extensions of time limits for decisions. Mandates an annual report on amounts collected under provisions regarding subrogation of petitioners' rights. Requires the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to monitor the balance of the Vaccine Injury Trust Fund and recommend changes in the tax per dose. Revises requirements regarding vaccine information materials. Authorizes appropriations from the Trust Fund for administering the National Vaccine Program.

(Sec. 4) Removes provisions authorizing grants for research on the prevention and control of diseases through vaccination and related demonstration projects, public information programs, and health professionals training and clinical skills improvement.

(Sec. 5) Allows malpractice coverage, in certain circumstances, for officers, employees, and contractors of entities that are migrant or community health centers or that provide health services for the homeless or for residents of public housing when they provide services to individuals who are not patients of the entities. Requires that appropriations for a malpractice claim fund be made separate from the appropriations for such entities.

Apr 1, 199300

Comprehensive Child Immunization Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate: (1) a list of vaccines that provide immunization against naturally occurring infectious diseases which are recommended for universal use in children; and (2) recommendations regarding the appropriate dosage and the ages of children at which each vaccine should be administered.

Directs the Secretary to establish a national system to track the immunization status of children. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to States to enable such States to establish and operate State immunization tracking registries, subject to specified conditions.

Sets forth limitations on the use and disclosure of personally-identifiable information relating to a child who receives a recommended childhood vaccine or to the parent or guardian of such a child.

Directs the Secretary to provide for the distribution without charge of such vaccines purchased by the Secretary under the Social Security Act to health care providers who serve children and meet other specified requirements.

Permits a health care provider receiving such a vaccine to: (1) use it only for administration to children; and (2) impose a fee for the administration of the vaccine, but not for the vaccine itself, subject to specified limitations.

Authorizes appropriations.

Requires that funds made available for the purpose of strengthening the public health infrastructure and used in the delivery of childhood immunization services be used for activities consistent with a strategic plan that meets nationally established immunization goals developed by the State in consultation with representatives of health care providers, health centers, State agencies serving young children, and other entities involved in the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Revises the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program regarding:

(1) addition of vaccines to the vaccine injury table; (2) the limitation of actions; (3) the extension of time for decision in proceedings on petitions for vaccine-related injuries or deaths; and (4) vaccine information materials (requiring a concise description of vaccine risks and benefits and a statement of Program availability).

Comprehensive Child Immunization Act of 1993 — Informed