[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4113 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4113

 To provide for the provision by hospitals of emergency contraceptives 
             to women who are survivors of sexual assault.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2002

   Mrs. Morella (for herself, Mr. Greenwood, Ms. Slaughter, and Ms. 
   DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the provision by hospitals of emergency contraceptives 
             to women who are survivors of sexual assault.

    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 ``Compassionate Care for Female Sexual 
Assault Survivors Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) It is estimated that 25,000 women become pregnant each 
        year as a result of rape or incest.
            (2) Surveys have shown that many hospitals do not routinely 
        provide emergency contraception to women seeking treatment 
        after being sexually assaulted.
            (3) The risk of pregnancy after sexual assault has been 
        estimated to be 4.7 percent in survivors who were not protected 
        by some form of contraception at the time of the attack.
            (4) The Food and Drug Administration has declared emergency 
        contraception to be safe and effective in preventing unintended 
        pregnancy, reducing the risk by as much as 89 percent.
            (5) Medical research strongly indicates that the sooner 
        emergency contraception is administered, the greater the 
        likelihood of preventing unintended pregnancy, and it is most 
        effective if administered in the first 12 hours after 
        unprotected intercourse.
            (6) In light of the safety and effectiveness of emergency 
        contraceptive pills, both the American Medical Association and 
        the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have 
        endorsed more widespread availability of such pills.
            (7) It is essential that all hospitals that provide 
        emergency medical treatment provide emergency contraception as 
        a treatment option to any woman who has been sexually 
        assaulted, so she may prevent an unintended pregnancy.

SEC. 3. SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT; PROVISION BY HOSPITALS OF 
              EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES WITHOUT CHARGE.

    (a) In General.--Federal funds may not be provided to a hospital 
under any health-related program unless the hospital meets the 
conditions specified in subsection (b) in the case of any woman who 
presents at the hospital and--
            (1) states that she is the victim of sexual assault;
            (2) is accompanied by someone who states she is a victim of 
        sexual assault; or
            (3) whom hospital personnel have reason to believe is a 
        victim of sexual assault.
    (b) Assistance for Victims.--The conditions specified in this 
subsection regarding a hospital and a woman described in subsection (a) 
are as follows:
            (1) The hospital promptly provides the woman with medically 
        and factually accurate and unbiased written and oral 
        information about emergency contraception, including 
        information explaining that--
                    (A) emergency contraception does not cause an 
                abortion; and
                    (B) emergency contraception is effective in most 
                cases in preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex.
            (2) The hospital promptly offers emergency contraception to 
        the woman, and promptly provides it to her upon her request.
            (3) The information provided pursuant to paragraph (1) is 
        in clear and concise language, is readily comprehensible, and 
        meets such conditions regarding the provision of the 
        information in languages other than English as the Secretary 
        may establish.
            (4) The services described in paragraphs (1) through (3) 
        are not denied because of the inability of the woman or her 
        family to pay for the services.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) The term ``emergency contraception'' means a drug that 
        is--
                    (A) used postcoitally;
                    (B) prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation, 
                preventing fertilization of an egg, or preventing 
                implantation of an egg in a uterus; and
                    (C) is approved by the Food and Drug 
                Administration.
            (2) The term ``hospital'' has the meanings given such term 
        in title XVIII of the Social Security Act, including the 
        meaning applicable in such title for purposes of making 
        payments for emergency services to hospitals that do not have 
        agreements in effect under such title.
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services.
            (4) The term ``sexual assault'' means coitus in which the 
        woman involved does not consent or lacks the legal capacity to 
        consent.
    (d) Effective Date; Agency Criteria.--This section takes effect 
upon the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. Not later than 30 days prior to the expiration 
of such period, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register 
criteria for carrying out this section.
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