Bill Overview
Title: Modernizing Biosurveillance Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act
Description: This bill makes changes to various biosurveillance activities and infectious disease outbreak analysis capabilities. These changes include expanding reporting requirements and otherwise modifying the scope of biosurveillance activities with a specific focus on improving the integration of other sources of data (e.g., laboratory results) into applicable surveillance systems. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue developing infectious disease outbreak analysis capabilities to respond to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. In particular, the CDC must identify strategies to leverage the capabilities of public and private entities, including through collaborative partnerships. The CDC must report annually for five years on its efforts.
Sponsors: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals worldwide
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill affects global biosurveillance capabilities, which are crucial for monitoring infectious diseases worldwide.
- Infectious diseases can affect anyone no matter where they are, so improvements in surveillance and forecasting have the potential to benefit the entire global population.
- The enhancement of outbreak analysis and response directly relates to global public health safety.
- The integration of more data sources improves the ability to predict and respond to infectious disease outbreaks globally.
- The focus on public and private partnerships indicates a broad scope that could involve multiple countries and entities.
Reasoning
- The policy is aimed at improving the biosurveillance and infectious disease monitoring capabilities within the U.S., targeting areas such as data integration and outbreak response.
- The impact will be more pronounced among individuals working in public health, data science, and those who are healthcare practitioners given their direct involvement in the procedures and outcomes of the policy.
- The general population may not notice immediate direct effects, but the potential indirect benefits include better health outcomes through improved disease control and prevention.
- Budget considerations ensure that the impact is maximized towards technological and systemic upgrades at the CDC and its partners, possibly limiting immediate extended reach to everyday citizens unless in a health crisis.
- Certain demographics, such as individuals directly affected by previous epidemics (e.g., pandemics, local outbreaks), might perceive changes more intimately due to heightened personal stakes in efficient disease management.
Simulated Interviews
Public Health Official (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The enhanced capabilities will provide us with the tools we need to respond more effectively to new health threats.
- This policy will streamline data collection and analysis, which is crucial for timely decision-making.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Data Scientist (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased collaboration with public entities like the CDC can open new opportunities for private sector innovation.
- I see more job stability if the policy encourages long-term projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure how much this policy will affect me directly, but anything that prevents outbreaks from reaching us as often is a plus.
- There isn't much information reaching rural areas quickly, so enhanced biosurveillance could help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired University Professor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know that the CDC will have improved tools to handle outbreaks, which could help protect people like me.
- Experience suggests that better tools lead to better prevention measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
General Practitioner (Houston, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The integration of more data sources into health systems is something I look forward to as it will make my job easier and responses to threats faster.
- It's frustrating when we lack the right data in real time; this policy addresses that concern.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could open up internship and job opportunities in the field of public health
- We cannot ignore the importance of data and technology in managing health crises.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Biotech Researcher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy aligns with the ongoing evolution towards better preparedness and rapid response.
- It should accelerate our ability to handle future pandemics or similar emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Stay-at-Home Parent (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm always worried about the kids getting sick when there's an outbreak at school.
- Efficient disease surveillance could mean less of a risk to my kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Technological advancements in public health are crucial, and this policy is a step in the right direction.
- Collaborations between tech and health sectors can lead to significant innovations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public Health Consultant (Boston, MA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Seen many public health challenges; this policy is necessary to prevent future failures in outbreak response.
- The financial and human resources allocations seem promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $62000000 (Low: $52000000, High: $72000000)
Year 3: $64000000 (Low: $54000000, High: $74000000)
Year 5: $68000000 (Low: $58000000, High: $78000000)
Year 10: $75000000 (Low: $65000000, High: $85000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Key Considerations
- The scope of international collaboration and data integration required may impact initial implementation costs.
- The effectiveness of partnership strategies with public and private entities could influence both costs and savings.
- Forecasting and surveillance improvements could act as a multiplier effect on federal, state, and regional health preparedness strategies.