The Affordable Care Act: Building Epidemiology, Laboratory, and Health Information Systems Capacity in the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Disease (ELC) and Emerging Infections Program (EIP) Cooperative Agreements; PPHF

The Prevention and Public Health Fund (Title IV, Section 4002) was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide for expanded and sustained national investment in prevention and public health programs to improve health and help restrain the rate of growth in private and public sector health care costs. The Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (ELC) and Emerging Infections Program (EIP) cooperative agreements were formed in 1995 as key components of CDC�s national strategy to address and reduce emerging infectious disease (EID) threats. The programs play a critical role in strengthening national infectious disease infrastructure by serving as collaborative platforms for state and local health departments, CDC programs, and academic and various other public health partners to improve the ability to detect and respond to EIDs and other public health threats. Specifically, the programs build epidemiology, laboratory, and information systems capacity, integrate epidemiology and laboratory practice, implement active surveillance, and conduct targeted research aimed at improving methods and informing national surveillance and response activities. Overall, additional funds from multiple sources including PPHF will allow ELC and EIP partner agencies to substantially address gaps in EID epidemiology and laboratory capacity (e.g. number and training level of epi and lab staff, efficient/functional information systems, etc).

Types of Assistance: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS