Infectious Disease Threats: Funding and Performance of Key Preparedness and Capacity-Building Programs, Report to Congressional Committees

摘要

An infectious disease threat is unique because of the transmissibility of diseases and the mobility of human populations, among other reasons. Infectious disease threats in recent years--such as Zika and Ebola outbreaks--have heightened the United States' attention to future potential threats, and raised questions about the nation's preparedness and response capabilities.A congressional report included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to report on the U.S. public health system's current capacity to respond to infectious disease threats. This report describes (1) funding HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] has made available to awardees--states and other jurisdictions--through its key preparedness and capacity-building programs--ELC [Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases], HPP [Hospital Preparedness Program], and PHEP [Public Health Emergency Preparedness]; and (2) these programs' performance measurement data on the awardees'infectious disease preparedness capacity. To do this work, GAO analyzed HHS's data on awards provided to awardees through the three key programs using annual and supplemental appropriations, and interviewed HHS officials and non-federal stakeholders about such funding. GAO identified non-federal stakeholders representing medical and public health associations, research centers, and others through a review of relevant literature, as well as prior GAO work. GAO also reviewed the most recently available data on awardee performance on 20 measures directly related to infectious disease preparedness collectively used by the three programs. GAO categorized these 20 measures into four preparedness capacity areas.