[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 324 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 324

    To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, 
                  postpartum depression and psychosis.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2009

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
  Whitehouse, and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was 
 read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                              and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    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 Mom's 
Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for 
Postpartum Depression Act'' or the ``Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``postpartum condition'' means postpartum 
        depression or postpartum psychosis; and
            (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services.

               TITLE I--RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS

SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Continuation of Activities.--The Secretary is encouraged to 
continue activities on postpartum conditions.
    (b) Programs for Postpartum Conditions.--In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary is encouraged to continue research to expand the 
understanding of the causes of, and treatments 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.
            (5) Information and education programs for health care 
        professionals and the public, which may include a coordinated 
        national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of 
        postpartum conditions. Activities under such a national 
        campaign may--
                    (A) include public service announcements through 
                television, radio, and other means; and
                    (B) focus on--
                            (i) raising awareness about screening;
                            (ii) educating new mothers and their 
                        families about postpartum conditions to promote 
                        earlier diagnosis and treatment; and
                            (iii) ensuring that such education includes 
                        complete information concerning postpartum 
                        conditions, including its symptoms, methods of 
                        coping with the illness, and treatment 
                        resources.

SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING 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 National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a 
nationally representative longitudinal study (during the period of 
fiscal years 2009 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.--Subject to the completion of the study under 
subsection (a), beginning not later than 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for the duration of 
the study, such Director may prepare and submit to the Congress reports 
on the findings of the study.

     TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.

    Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330G the 
following:

``SEC. 330G-1. SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH A POSTPARTUM CONDITION AND 
              THEIR FAMILIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to eligible 
entities for projects for the establishment, operation, and 
coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery 
of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and 
their families.
    ``(b) Certain Activities.--To the extent practicable and 
appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects funded under 
subsection (a) provide education and services with respect to the 
diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. The Secretary may 
allow such projects to include the following:
            ``(1) Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based 
        health and support services, including case management 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 a postpartum condition and 
        support services for their families.
            ``(4) Providing education to new mothers and, as 
        appropriate, their families about postpartum conditions to 
        promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. Such education may 
        include--
                    ``(A) providing complete information on postpartum 
                conditions, symptoms, methods of coping with the 
                illness, and treatment resources; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a grantee that is a State, 
                hospital, or birthing facility--
                            ``(i) providing education to new mothers 
                        and fathers, and other family members as 
                        appropriate, concerning postpartum conditions 
                        before new mothers leave the health facility; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) ensuring that training programs 
                        regarding such education are carried out at the 
                        health facility.
    ``(c) Integration With Other Programs.--To the extent practicable 
and appropriate, the Secretary may integrate the grant program under 
this section with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, 
including the program under section 330.
    ``(d) Certain Requirements.--A grant may be made under this section 
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 subsection (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 funded under subsection (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.
            ``(6) For each grant period, the applicant will submit to 
        the Secretary a report that describes how grant funds were used 
        during such period.
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical 
assistance to entities seeking a grant under this section in order to 
assist such entities in complying with the requirements of this 
section.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `eligible entity'--
                    ``(A) means a public or nonprofit private entity; 
                and
                    ``(B) includes a State or local government, public-
                private partnership, recipient of a grant under section 
                330H (relating to the Healthy Start Initiative), public 
                or nonprofit private hospital, community-based 
                organization, hospice, ambulatory care facility, 
                community health center, migrant health center, public 
                housing primary care center, or homeless health center.
            ``(2) The term `postpartum condition' means postpartum 
        depression or postpartum psychosis.''.

                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    To carry out this Act and the amendment made by section 201, there 
are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to such other sums as 
may be available for such purpose--
            (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010 and 
        2011.

SEC. 302. REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on the benefits of 
screening for postpartum conditions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the study required by 
subsection (a) and submit a report to the Congress on the results of 
such study.

SEC. 303. LIMITATION.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or the amendment 
made by section 201, the Secretary may not utilize amounts made 
available under this Act or such amendment to carry out activities or 
programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are 
already being carried out through the Department of Health and Human 
Services.
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