Glaucoma detection and prevention program

(a) In general The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, acting through the head of the Vision Health Initiative, (in this section referred to as the Director) shall expand and support glaucoma detection and prevention activities, including by awarding grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to provide free or low-cost glaucoma screenings and follow-up treatment to uninsured and underinsured high-risk individuals. (b) Applications To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director determines appropriate. (c) Use of funds A grant under this section may be used— (1) to provide the screenings and treatment referred to in subsection (a); and (2) as it relates to such screenings and treatment, for— (A) outreach and community education; (B) mobile screening units; (C) care coordination and linkage to ongoing ophthalmologic care; (D) the evaluation described in subsection (e), including data collection to assist in preparing such evaluation; and (E) glaucoma disease surveillance. (d) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall give priority to projects serving racial and ethnic minority communities and other underserved populations with a high burden of glaucoma and vision loss. (e) Evaluation As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Director a report evaluating the effectiveness of the activities funded by such grant. (f) Eligible entity defined In this section, the term eligible entity means any of the following: (1) A State or territory of the United States (including the District of Columbia). (2) A local health department. (3) A community health center. (4) An academic medical center. (5) A nonprofit organization. (6) Such other entity as the Director determines appropriate. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2028.