The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and regularly update a plan for the rapid development, validation, production, and distribution of diagnostic tests in response to public health emergencies.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Representative
IA-1
The "Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and regularly update a plan for the rapid development, validation, production, and distribution of diagnostic tests in response to public health emergencies. This plan aims to improve coordination between public and private entities, consider new technologies, address medical supply needs, and ensure efficient test distribution. The Secretary is authorized to contract with public and private entities to enhance domestic diagnostic testing capacity and must release the plan within one year, updating it every three years thereafter.
New Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act Aims for Rapid Response to Future Health Crises: Plan Due Within One Year
The Diagnostics Testing Preparedness Plan Act of 2025 is all about making sure the U.S. is ready for the next major health emergency. Instead of scrambling for tests like we've seen before, this bill forces the creation of a detailed plan to quickly develop, produce, and get those tests where they need to go. The Secretary has one year to get this plan out to the public and is required to update it every three years after that.
Fast Track to Testing
This bill amends Section 319B of the Public Health Service Act. The core of the plan is speed and coordination. Think of it as a playbook for a national health crisis. The Secretary must coordinate with all the players—private companies (the folks making the tests, Sec. 2), state and local governments, and even Tribal organizations—to make sure everyone's on the same page. This includes figuring out how to quickly validate new tests, ramp up production (think factories switching gears, fast, Sec. 2), and get them distributed across the country. It's not just about having tests; it's about having the right tests, and enough of them, when we need them.
For example, if a new virus emerges, this plan would dictate how labs and manufacturers quickly develop and validate a test for it. It also addresses how to get that test out to, say, a farmer in Iowa, a teacher in Florida, or a construction worker in New York, ensuring everyone has access, fast (Sec. 2).
Boosting Our Testing Arsenal
The plan also has to consider new technologies. This isn't just about the old-school lab tests; it includes point-of-care diagnostics (think quicker results at the doctor's office) and even rapid at-home tests (Sec. 2). The bill also requires the plan to address the nitty-gritty of medical supplies – ensuring we have enough equipment, component parts, and everything else needed to run these tests (Sec. 2). No more running out of swabs!
Real-World Readiness
One of the smart things about this bill is that it authorizes the Secretary to make deals with private companies to boost domestic manufacturing (Sec. 2). This should, in theory, make the U.S. less reliant on other countries for crucial testing supplies. The bill also requires regular drills and exercises to test these strategies (Sec. 2). It is one thing to have a plan on paper, another to see if it works in a real-world scenario.
While the bill lays out a strong framework, the real test will be in the execution. Will the plan be detailed enough? Will updates actually happen every three years? And will the coordination between all these different groups actually work in a crisis? Those are the questions that will determine if this bill truly makes a difference.