The act establishes procedures for bioterrorism and public health emergencies. It also creates the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS): "through which teams of health professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, paramedics, and nurses, volunteer in emergency situations" (Wikipedia contributors, n.d.).

It also creates a registry of "restricted persons" who are denied access to hazardous waste or biomaterials seen as dangerous, as defined by the 2001 U.S. Patriot Act.