ALERT Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced
Summary
Creates nationwide real-time infectious disease surveillance for nursing homes. The ALERT Act of 2026 would expand the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network to detect outbreaks faster, notify health authorities immediately, and offer nursing homes an optional staffed care management program to improve resident outcomes.
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- Residents and families: Faster outbreak detection and immediate notifications aim to reduce delays in care and keep families informed. Nursing homes could opt into a staffed care management program that supports resident health.
- Nursing homes and operators: The bill would require a 5-year program to cover nursing homes nationwide starting within 180 days of enactment. HHS may contract U.S.-based, HITRUST r2 cybersecurity certified partners to build the tech and analytic infrastructure while treating contractors as covered entities under HIPAA and barring use of collected data for enforcement unless law allows it.
- Public health authorities and responders: The system would create a central hub of epidemiologists to support rapid outbreak identification and provide immediate notifications to Federal, State, and local health officials for coordinated responses.
*Authorizes such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Real-time outbreak detection for nursing homes
If enacted, the bill would require HHS (through CDC) to run a five-year program to expand the National Healthcare Safety Network to cover nursing homes. The program would begin no later than 180 days after enactment and would authorize such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The CDC could contract with U.S.-based firms that keep HITRUST r2 certification, are not electronic medical records companies, and have public-health surveillance experience. Contracts would build real-time monitoring that integrates with NHSN, create a central hub of epidemiologists, and send immediate alerts to federal, State, and local health officials. Nursing homes could opt into a staffed care management program to help residents. Contractors would be treated as HIPAA covered entities, must protect patient data, and data could not be used for regulatory enforcement unless a law allows it. At the end of the five-year program the Secretary would report to Congress on effectiveness, impacts on hospitalizations and patient outcomes, and recommendations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
NC • R
Cosponsors
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov