Epidemiology centers

The Secretary shall establish an epidemiology center in each Service area to carry out the functions described in subsection (b). Subject to subparagraph (B), any new center established after March 23, 2010, may be operated under a grant authorized by subsection (d). Funding provided in a grant described in subparagraph (A) shall not be divisible. An epidemiology center established under this subsection shall be subject to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.),11 See References in Text note below. but the funds for the center shall not be divisible. In consultation with and on the request of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, each Service area epidemiology center established under this section shall, with respect to the applicable Service area— The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall provide technical assistance to the centers in carrying out this section. The Secretary may make grants to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Indian organizations, and eligible intertribal consortia to conduct epidemiological studies of Indian communities. An intertribal consortium or Indian organization shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the intertribal consortium is— An application for a grant under this subsection shall be submitted in such manner and at such time as the Secretary shall prescribe. An applicant for a grant under this subsection shall— A grant provided under paragraph (1) may be used— An epidemiology center operated by a grantee pursuant to a grant awarded under subsection (d) shall be treated as a public health authority (as defined in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 1936). The Secretary shall grant to each epidemiology center described in paragraph (1) access to use of the data, data sets, monitoring systems, delivery systems, and other protected health information in the possession of the Secretary. The activities of an epidemiology center described in paragraph (1) shall be for the purposes of research and for preventing and controlling disease, injury, or disability (as those activities are described in section 164.512 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 1936).