[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 20 Engrossed in House (EH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 20
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with,
postpartum depression and psychosis.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum
Depression Research and Care Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder
which strikes many women during and after pregnancy.
(2) Postpartum mood changes are common and can be broken
into three subgroups: ``baby blues'', which is an extremely
common and the less severe form of postpartum depression;
postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, which are more severe
than baby blues and can occur during pregnancy and anytime
within the first year of the infant's birth; and postpartum
psychosis, which is the most extreme form of postpartum
depression and can occur during pregnancy and up to 12 months
after delivery.
(3) ``Baby blues'' is characterized by mood swings,
feelings of being overwhelmed, tearfulness, irritability, poor
sleep, mood changes, and a sense of vulnerability.
(4) The symptoms of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders
are the worsening and the continuation of the baby blues beyond
the first days or weeks after delivery.
(5) The symptoms of postpartum psychosis include losing
touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory
hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or
mania.
(6) Each year over 400,000 women suffer from postpartum
mood changes, with baby blues afflicting up to 80 percent of
new mothers; postpartum mood and anxiety disorders impairing
around 10 to 20 percent of new mothers; and postpartum
psychosis striking 1 in 1,000 new mothers.
(7) Postpartum depression is a treatable disorder if
promptly diagnosed by a trained provider and attended to with a
personalized regimen of care including social support, therapy,
medication, and when necessary hospitalization.
(8) All too often postpartum depression goes undiagnosed or
untreated due to the social stigma surrounding depression and
mental illness, the myth of motherhood, the new mother's
inability to self-diagnose her condition, the new mother's
shame or embarrassment over discussing her depression so near
to the birth of her child, the lack of understanding in society
and the medical community of the complexity of postpartum
depression, and economic pressures placed on hospitals and
providers.
(9) Untreated, postpartum depression can lead to further
depression, substance abuse, loss of employment, divorce and
further social alienation, self-destructive behavior, or even
suicide.
(10) Untreated, postpartum depression impacts society
through its effect on the infant's physical and psychological
development, child abuse, neglect, or death of the infant or
other siblings, and the disruption of the family.
TITLE I--RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS
SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (in this title
referred to as the ``Institute''), is encouraged to continue aggressive
work on postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.
(b) Coordination With Other Institutes.--The Director of the
Institute should continue to coordinate activities of the Director
under subsection (a) with similar activities conducted by the other
national research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of
Health to the extent that such Institutes and agencies have
responsibilities that are related to postpartum conditions.
(c) Programs for Postpartum Conditions.--In carrying out subsection
(a), the Director of the Institute is encouraged to continue research
to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for,
postpartum conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include
conducting and supporting the following:
(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of
the conditions.
(2) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and
natural history of the conditions and the differences among
racial and ethnic groups with respect to the conditions.
(3) The development of improved screening and diagnostic
techniques.
(4) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of
new treatments, including new biological agents.
(5) Information and education programs for health care
professionals and the public.
SEC. 102. NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health
and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration are encouraged to carry out a coordinated national
campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of postpartum
depression and postpartum psychosis.
(b) Public Service Announcements.--Activities under the national
campaign under subsection (a) may include public service announcements
through television, radio, and other means.
SEC. 103. BIENNIAL REPORTING.
Section 403(a)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
283(a)(5)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (L) as subparagraph (M);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (K) the following:
``(L) Depression.''.
SEC. 104. LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF RELATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR
WOMEN OF RESOLVING A PREGNANCY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Director of the Institute may conduct a nationally representative
longitudinal study (during the period of fiscal years 2008 through
2018) of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving
a pregnancy (intended and unintended) in various ways, including
carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the
pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and
having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing,
magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health
consequences (positive or negative) of these pregnancy outcomes.
(b) Report.--Beginning not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for the duration of
the study under subsection (a), the Director of the Institute should
prepare and submit to the Congress reports on the findings of the
study.
TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND
PSYCHOSIS
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this title referred to as the ``Secretary'') should in accordance with
this title make grants to provide for projects for the establishment,
operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for
the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum
depression or postpartum psychosis (referred to in this section as a
``postpartum condition'') and their families.
(b) Recipients of Grants.--A grant under subsection (a) may be made
to an entity only if the entity is a public or nonprofit private
entity, which may include a State or local government; a public or
nonprofit private hospital, community-based organization, hospice,
ambulatory care facility, community health center, migrant health
center, or homeless health center; or any other appropriate public or
nonprofit private entity.
(c) Certain Activities.--To the extent practicable and appropriate,
the Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a) provide
services for the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions.
Activities that the Secretary may authorize for such projects may also
include the following:
(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based
health and support services, including case management,
screening, and comprehensive treatment services for individuals
with or at risk for postpartum conditions; and delivering or
enhancing support services for their families.
(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management
services that ensure the well-being of the mother and family
and the future development of the infant.
(3) Improving the quality, availability, and organization
of health care and support services (including transportation
services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite
care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and
insurance) for individuals with postpartum conditions and
support services for their families.
(d) Integration With Other Programs.--To the extent practicable and
appropriate, the Secretary should integrate the program under this
title with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including
the program under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
SEC. 202. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
A grant may be made under section 201 only if the applicant
involved makes the following agreements:
(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be used for
administration, accounting, reporting, and program oversight
functions.
(2) The grant will be used to supplement and not supplant
funds from other sources related to the treatment of postpartum
conditions.
(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations deemed
appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to individuals
receiving services pursuant to the grant. As deemed appropriate
by the Secretary, such limitations on charges may vary based on
the financial circumstances of the individual receiving
services.
(4) The grant will not be expended to make payment for
services authorized under section 201(a) to the extent that
payment has been made, or can reasonably be expected to be
made, with respect to such services--
(A) under any State compensation program, under an
insurance policy, or under any Federal or State health
benefits program; or
(B) by an entity that provides health services on a
prepaid basis.
(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the applicant
provides services under section 201(a), post a conspicuous
notice informing individuals who receive the services of any
Federal policies that apply to the applicant with respect to
the imposition of charges on such individuals.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to assist entities
in complying with the requirements of this title in order to make such
entities eligible to receive grants under section 201.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
To carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, there
are authorized to be appropriated--
(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 and
2010.
Passed the House of Representatives October 15, 2007.
Attest:
Clerk.
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 20
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with,
postpartum depression and psychosis.