6 U.S.C. § 597: Chief Medical Officer

Summary

Creates a Chief Medical Officer in the Office who must be chosen by the President and who reports to the Assistant Secretary. The person must be a licensed physician with clear experience and knowledge in medicine and public health. The Chief Medical Officer handles medical issues for natural disasters, terrorism, and other man-made disasters. They advise top officials (including the Secretary and the FEMA Administrator), give operational medical support, can provide reimbursable medical liaisons to parts of the Department, work with federal, state, local, Tribal leaders and health agencies like CDC and HHS ASPR, and carry out other duties the Secretary asks.

Title 6, §597

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

There is in the Office a Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the President. The Chief Medical Officer shall report to the Assistant Secretary.

(b)Qualifications

The individual appointed as Chief Medical Officer shall be a licensed physician possessing a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and public health.

(c)Responsibilities

The Chief Medical Officer shall have the responsibility within the Department for medical issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including—

(1)serving as the principal advisor on medical and public health issues to the Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Assistant Secretary, and other Department officials;

(2)providing operational medical support to all components of the Department;

(3)as appropriate, providing medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on operational medical issues;

(4)coordinating with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, the medical community, and others within and outside the Department, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services, with respect to medical and public health matters; and

(5)performing such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may require.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Similar ProvisionsProvisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 321e of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–387, § 2(c)(1).

§597 Chief Medical Officer

Summary

Title 6, §597

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Citations & Metadata