FY 2012 Senate Labor - HHS Report Language
Section 317 Immunization Program — The Committee recognizes that high rates of childhood immunization coverage are important for reducing child mortality and saving costs over a lifetime. For every $1 spent on the childhood series of vaccines, $16.50 is saved. Therefore, the Committee has included $150,000,000 from the PPH Fund to expand the section 317 immunization program. The additional funding will allow more recommended immunizations to be available through the existing network of private and public immunization providers, and support and expand the network as needed.
Immunization Infrastructure — The Committee recognizes that the Nation’s immunization infrastructure is essential for ensuring the continued high rates of childhood immunization coverage and supports efforts to modernize this infrastructure in making recommended immunizations more widely available. The Committee supports CDC’s decision to support these efforts out of the PPH Fund rather than at the expense of funding used for vaccine purchase. The Committee urges the Secretary to continue this policy.
As investments are made to modernize the immunization infrastructure, and as the Nation’s health care delivery system continues to evolve through enhanced health insurance coverage, the Committee recommends that CDC develop strategies to (1) modernize immunization information systems; (2) prepare public health departments for changes in the health care delivery system, including new billing procedures related to privately insured patients; and (3) strengthen the evidence base to inform immunization policy and program monitoring including vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, vaccine coverage assessment, and laboratory training. The strategy should also address how CDC will maintain and expand partnerships with the healthcare sector to provide routine and emergency immunization services.
The Committee recognizes that past cost savings from the section 317 program that supported an at-risk adult hepatitis B vaccine initiative have been expended. The Committee commends CDC for its efforts to provide hepatitis vaccinations through the section 317 program.
Immunization Report — The Committee finds the annual report on the estimated funding needs of the section 317 immunization program to be vital information and requests that it be submitted not later than February 1 of each year to reflect the following fiscal year cost estimates. The report should include an estimate of optimum State and local operations funding, as well as CDC operations funding needed relative to current levels to conduct and support childhood, adolescent, and adult programs. In addition, the report should include a discussion of specific strategies to improve the overall immunization infrastructure and to reduce barriers and increase adult immunization rates in the United States and how section 317 immunization program funds are currently used to reach immunization goals. The report should further include a discussion of the evolving role of the 317 program as expanded coverage for vaccination becomes available from private and public sources over the next several years.