109 HR 6169 IH: Post-Abortion Depression Research and
U.S. House of Representatives
2006-09-25
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Post-Abortion Depression Research and
Care Act
.
2.The Congress finds as follows:
(1)About 3,000,000
women per year in the United States have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy,
and approximately 1,186,000 of these pregnancies end in elective
abortion.
(2)Abortion can have
severe and long-term effects on the mental and emotional well-being of women.
Women often experience sadness and guilt following abortions with no one to
console them. They may have difficulty in bonding with new babies, become
overprotective parents or develop problems in their relationship with their
spouses. Problems such as eating disorders, depression and suicide attempts
have also been traced to past abortions.
(3)The symptoms of
post-abortion depression include bouts of crying, guilt, intense grief or
sadness, emotional numbness, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, suicidal
urges, anxiety and panic attacks, anger/rage, sexual problems or promiscuity,
lowered self esteem, nightmares and sleep disturbance, flashbacks, and
difficulty with relationships.
(4)Women who aborted
a first pregnancy are four times more likely to report substance abuse compared
to those who suffered a natural loss of their first pregnancy, and they are
five times more likely to report subsequent substance abuse than women who
carried to term.
(5)Greater thought
suppression is associated with experiencing more intrusive thoughts of the
abortion. Both suppression and intrusive thoughts, in turn, are positively
related to increases in psychological distress over time.
(6)Women who
experience decision-making difficulties and may lack social support may
experience more negative emotional consequences to induced abortion.
(7)Post-abortion
depression often relates to the lack of understanding in society and the
medical community of the complexity of post-abortion depression, and economic
pressures placed on hospitals and providers are contributing factors.
(8)Social pressure to
have an abortion can be directly related to higher levels of immediate regret
and more mental undoing over subsequent years.
(9)Post-abortion
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.
(10)While there have
been many studies regarding the emotional aftermath of abortion, very little
research has been sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
(11)A major New Zealand study shows abortion
has serious negative consequences for women. Among the alarming findings with
respect to girls 15 through 18:
(A)With respect to
experiencing major depression: Those who had not become pregnant had a 31.2
percent chance. Those who became pregnant but did not have an abortion had a
35.7 percent chance. But those who had an abortion had an astonishing 78.6
percent chance.
(B)With respect to experiencing anxiety: Those
who had not become pregnant had a 37.9 percent chance. Those who became
pregnant but did not have an abortion had a 35.7 percent chance. But those who
had an abortion had a 64.3 percent chance.
(C)With respect to thoughts of suicide: Those
who had not become pregnant had a 23 percent chance. Those who became pregnant
but did not have an abortion had a 25 percent chance. But those who had an
abortion had a 50 percent chance.
<enum>I</enum><header>Research on
Post-Abortion depression and psychosis</header>
<section id="H7C7499A8BCAC46E99C6650C05E84FD5F"><enum>101.</enum><header>Expansion and
intensification of activities of national Institute of mental health</header>
<subsection id="HBF3DDD8A98274408847285F65DE6B388"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Director of NIH and the Director of the National Institute of
Mental Health (in this section referred to as the <quote>Institute</quote>),
shall expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute
with respect to post-abortion depression and post-abortion psychosis (in this
section referred to as <quote>post-abortion conditions</quote>).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEB8727B7D4A44B4D988F40696DF1A4D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination
with other Institutes</header><text>The Director of the Institute shall
coordinate the 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 post-abortion
conditions.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H22174CBAF13246269B1F742F197F93A1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Programs for
post-abortion conditions</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the
Director of the Institute shall conduct or support research to expand the
understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, post-abortion
conditions. Activities under such subsection shall include conducting and
supporting the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HCC6352028C2545BAAAF5C6D705BE255B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Basic research
concerning the etiology and causes of the conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H33D694712C3A4421A5BD38D7EAD83DD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC92275D5F1924FD7B964D17DE2007C54"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The development of
improved diagnostic techniques.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0F957F12E1C24D1FBBCFA0ACDA1B6EC2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Clinical research
for the development and evaluation of new treatments, including new biological
agents.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3565E4277E0F4C239569CE3080F47984"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Information and
education programs for health care professionals and the public.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3A97ECDD12EE423A813EE6094851304F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Longitudinal
study</header>
<paragraph id="H5CC77ACA78CC496DBDD5A8B0942763FE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director of the Institute shall conduct a national
longitudinal study to determine the incidence and prevalence of cases of
post-abortion conditions, and the symptoms, severity, and duration of such
cases, toward the goal of more fully identifying the characteristics of such
cases and developing diagnostic techniques.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB351C0BE1C8549BAABDD0DB146C6123"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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 paragraph (1), the
Director of the Institute shall prepare and submit to the Congress reports on
the findings of the study.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF9548192337C4F79A16EF500028644CF"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>For the purpose of carrying out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2006 through 2010.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Delivery of
services regarding post-abortion depression and psychosis</header>
<section id="H3160324EAC734FFF8236ACFF20499D45"><enum>201.</enum><header>Establishment
of program of grants</header>
<subsection id="HA2D65D82C01E41CA9D945803911E8FBC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this title
referred to as the “Secretary”) shall 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 post-abortion depression or post-abortion psychosis (referred
to in this section as a “post-abortion condition) and their families.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB54E58CE39F04B83B40037E956AAE76D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Recipients of
grants</header><text>A grant under subsection (a) may be made to an entity only
if the entity—</text>
<paragraph id="HB9C7D02113F544BEB916E39C347C2337"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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 other appropriate public or nonprofit private
entity; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD98BFECFE39D4DB694B63187521577FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>had experience in
providing the services described in subsection (a) before the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1E06133FDDC7483D956F5ED06CD44EC4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Certain
activities</header><text>To the extent practicable and appropriate, the
Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a) provide services for
the diagnosis and management of post-abortion conditions. Activities that the
Secretary may authorize for such projects may also include the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H3B2FD9E8F67A4C54996717551B12CE17"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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 post-abortion conditions; and delivering or enhancing support
services for their families.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21C970E1BA96422CAE32C6639EAA1070"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Delivering or
enhancing inpatient care management services that ensure the well being of the
mother and family and the future development of the infant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H153A0A3D789B4FCA8C7621AFEFD268C4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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 post-abortion conditions and support services for their
families.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB9A8FAF2F065460792F7FDF48B328E6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Integration with
other programs</header><text>To the extent practicable and appropriate, the
Secretary shall integrate the program under this title with other grant
programs carried out by the Secretary, including the program under section 330
of the <act-name parsable-cite="PHSA">Public Health Service
Act</act-name>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H523CD0D74FA342DE971E1EF421B7A17E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitation on
amount of grants</header><text>A grant under subsection (a) may not for any
fiscal year be made in an amount exceeding $100,000.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HC9E9AAE1DCC847ECB6A2F0A846F22C00"><enum>202.</enum><header>Certain
requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">A grant may be
made under section 201 only if the applicant involved makes the following
agreements:</text>
<paragraph id="HFF4DCE4E47C74F6C893F24DDC1B7B3F9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Not more than 5
percent of the grant will be used for administration, accounting, reporting,
and program oversight functions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H785E35084F9C4FD6B2889512C22BBDE1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The grant will be
used to supplement and not supplant funds from other sources related to the
treatment of post-abortion conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5F2A582CD0FF489B997FBCC762C7ED62"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBA2C916EFD494B178B2C288E6F28947D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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—</text>
<subparagraph id="H222B4532BF43484EB54E153187F704B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>under any State
compensation program, under an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State
health benefits program; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1CA7D8980EEA461A8F44E3B04841AFC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by an entity that
provides health services on a prepaid basis.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HD12FB1809CD14C28A2E3AF8381DA6B03"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HAFA51E37A9CC4EE694F425CD03A9DE3F"><enum>203.</enum><header>Technical
assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text>
</section><section id="H223A5207B5934A8BB1FD642CBDDED1DE"><enum>204.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">For the
purpose of carrying out this title, there is authorized to be appropriated
$300,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010.</text>
</section>