H.R. 9908
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Erin Houchin
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a workforce development strategy to address the need for cybersecurity professionals in rural hospitals.
Among other topics, the strategy must consider (1) partnerships between rural hospitals, hospitals that are not rural hospitals, educational institutions, and private nonprofit or for-profit entities; and (2) the development of a cybersecurity curriculum for use in rural educational institutions. HHS must annually brief Congress on the strategy and any programs or initiatives established thereunder.
Additionally, HHS must disseminate free materials that rural hospitals may use to train staff about cybersecurity.
Text of the bill
(a) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services and make available through other appropriate means, at no cost, instructional materials for rural hospitals that can be used to train staff on fundamental cybersecurity efforts.
(b) Duties. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
(1) consult with appropriate heads of agencies, experts in cybersecurity education, and rural health care experts;
(2) identify existing cybersecurity instructional materials that can be adapted for use in rural hospitals and develop new materials as needed; and
(3) conduct an awareness campaign to promote the materials available to rural hospitals developed under subsection (a).