Expands the National Healthcare Safety Network to enhance real-time infectious disease surveillance in nursing homes.

The ALERT Act of 2026 amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and enhance the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for real-time infectious disease and public health surveillance in nursing homes. The Secretary is authorized to contract with eligible entities to develop and operate the necessary technological and analytic infrastructure. The Act mandates that the infrastructure provide real-time monitoring, integrate with NHSN, establish a central hub of epidemiologists, and ensure privacy protections for patient data.

Expands the National Healthcare Safety Network to enhance real-time infectious disease surveillance in nursing homes.

The ALERT Act of 2026 amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand and enhance the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for real-time infectious disease and public health surveillance in nursing homes. The Secretary is authorized to contract with eligible entities to develop and operate the necessary technological and analytic infrastructure. The Act mandates that the infrastructure provide real-time monitoring, integrate with NHSN, establish a central hub of epidemiologists, and ensure privacy protections for patient data.