The ALERT Act of 2026 directs the Department of Health and Human Services to expand and enhance the National Healthcare Safety Network over a five-year period to create real-time surveillance systems that monitor infectious diseases in nursing homes across the country. The bill authorizes the CDC to contract with eligible companies to develop technology infrastructure that can detect disease outbreaks, notify health authorities immediately, and support optional care management programs at nursing facilities. The contracted company must be U.S.-based, hold specific security certification, not be an electronic medical records company, and must have experience operating public health surveillance networks. The legislation includes strong privacy protections for patient data and prohibits using the surveillance data for regulatory enforcement unless specifically authorized by law. The bill authorizes funding through fiscal year 2031 and requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the system's effectiveness, its impact on hospitalizations and patient outcomes, and recommendations for continuing or expanding the program.
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