[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1440 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 516
112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1440

To reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related 
    deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant 
                    mortality caused by prematurity.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 28, 2011

 Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. 
Lugar, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Begich, Ms. Collins, Mr. Reed, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
Inouye, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Snowe, 
 Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Coons, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
 Tester, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Boxer, and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

                           September 19, 2012

               Reported by Mr. Harkin, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related 
    deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant 
                    mortality caused by prematurity.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Prematurity Research 
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early 
Reauthorization Act'' or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. PURPOSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the purpose of this Act to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) help reduce preterm birth, associated 
        disabilities of preterm birth, and deaths of babies born 
        preterm;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) expand research into the causes of preterm 
        birth; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) promote the development, availability, and use 
        of evidence-based practices of care for pregnant women at risk 
        of preterm labor or other serious pregnancy-related 
        complications and for infants born preterm.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
              HEALTH.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 409K. EXPANSION AND COORDINATION OF RESEARCH RELATING 
              TO PRETERM LABOR AND DELIVERY AND INFANT 
              MORTALITY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of NIH, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the National 
Institutes of Health with respect to research on the causes of preterm 
labor and delivery, tools to detect, prevent, or reduce prevalence of 
preterm labor and delivery, and the care and treatment of preterm 
infants.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Authorization of Clinical Research Networks.--There 
shall be established within the National Institutes of Health a multi-
center clinical program (that shall be initially established utilizing 
existing networks) designed to--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) investigate problems in clinical obstetrics, 
        particularly those related to prevention of low birth weight, 
        prematurity, and medical problems of pregnancy;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) improve the care and outcomes of neonates, 
        especially very-low-birth weight infants; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) enhance the understanding of DNA and 
        proteins as they relate to the underlying processes that lead 
        to preterm birth to aid in formulating more effective 
        interventions to prevent preterm birth.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Trans-Disciplinary Centers for Preterm Birth 
Research.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall, 
        subject to appropriations made available to carry out this 
        subsection, award grants and contracts to public and nonprofit 
        private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, 
        establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support 
        for trans-disciplinary research centers for prematurity. 
        Research supported under this subsection shall integrate 
        clinical, public health, basic, and behavioral and social 
        science disciplines together with bioinformatics, engineering, 
        mathematical, and computer sciences to address the causes of 
        preterm labor and delivery collaboratively.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant or contract under paragraph (1), an entity shall submit 
        to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, 
        and containing such information as the Director may require, 
        including, if appropriate, an assurance that the entity will 
        coordinate with clinical research networks authorized in 
        subsection (b).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Report.--The Director of NIH shall include 
        in the report under section 402A(c) information on the 
        activities of the trans-disciplinary research centers for 
        prematurity under this subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) National Educational Campaign.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting 
        through the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service and in 
        consultation with the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver 
        National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, shall 
        establish and implement a national science-based provider and 
        consumer education campaign on promoting healthy pregnancies 
        and preventing preterm birth.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Targeting.--The campaign established under 
        paragraph (1) shall target women of childbearing age, high risk 
        populations, ethnic and minority groups, individuals with a low 
        socioeconomic status, obstetricians and gynecologists, nurse 
        practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified midwives, 
        and other health care providers.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE 
              CONTROL AND PREVENTION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Epidemiological Studies.--Section 3 of the Prematurity 
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early 
Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f) is amended by striking subsection (b) and 
inserting the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Studies and Activities on Preterm Birth.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and 
        Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for 
        Disease Control and Prevention, shall, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) conduct ongoing epidemiological 
                studies on the clinical, biological, social, 
                environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors relating 
                to prematurity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) conduct activities to improve 
                national data to facilitate tracking the burden of 
                preterm birth;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) develop, implement, and evaluate 
                novel methods for prevention to better understand the 
                growing problem of late preterm birth;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) conduct etiologic and epidemiologic 
                studies of preterm birth;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) expand research on racial and ethnic 
                disparities as they relate to preterm birth; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) conduct ongoing epidemiological 
                studies on the effectiveness of community based 
                interventions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, and every 
        2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention, shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress reports concerning the progress and any results of 
        studies conducted under paragraph (1).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Reauthorization.--Section 3(e) of the Prematurity 
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early 
Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f(e)) is amended by striking ``2011'' and 
inserting ``2016''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND 
              SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Telemedicine Demonstration Project on High Risk 
Pregnancies.--Section 330I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
254c-14) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating subsections (q) through (s) 
        as subsections (r) through (t), respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by inserting after subsection (p), the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(q) Telemedicine Demonstration Project on High Risk 
Pregnancies.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Director shall award grants 
        under this section to eligible entities to establish 
        demonstration projects for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the provision of preconception, 
                antepartum, intrapartum, and obstetric services to high 
                risk women of child bearing age remotely by 
                obstetricians and gynecologists, nurse practitioners, 
                certified nurse-midwives, certified midwives, or other 
                health care providers using telehealth; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) for the conduct of educational 
                activities regarding risk factors for preterm 
                birth.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under paragraph (1), an entity shall submit an 
        application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Director my require.''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (t) (as so redesignated)--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' 
                at the end;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the 
                period and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) for grants under subsection (q), $1,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Public and Health Care Provider Education.--Section 
399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-5) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (b)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting the 
                following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the core risk factors for preterm 
                labor;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) medically indicated deliveries 
                before 39 weeks;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) outcomes for infants born before 39 
                weeks;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) risk factors for preterm 
                delivery;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) the importance of preconception- and 
                prenatal care;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) smoking cessation, hypertension, and 
                weight maintenance;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) treatments and outcomes for babies 
                born premature;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) the informational needs of families 
                during the stay of an infant in a neonatal intensive 
                care unit;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) preventable birth injuries if 
                evidence-based strategies had been utilized;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) depression; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(K) the use of progesterone;''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and by 
                redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) 
                and (3), respectively;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
        (d) and by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Pilot Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through 
        the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration and the heads of other appropriate agencies, 
        shall conduct (and report on) research studies and 
        demonstration projects that test maternity care models that are 
        designed to reduce the rate of preterm birth.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Grants.--The Secretary may carry out this 
        subsection through the awarding of grants to eligible 
        entities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under this section an entity shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) be--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a hospital or hospital 
                        systems that utilizes evidence-based best 
                        practices; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a public or private 
                        nonprofit entity; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) submit to the Secretary an 
                application at such time, in such manner, and 
                containing such information as the Secretary may 
                require.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Targeting.--In awarding grants under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to projects in 
        geographic areas with a demonstrated persistent high rate of 
        preterm birth based on data from the National Center on Health 
        Statistics.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (d), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), by striking ``2011'' and inserting 
        ``2016''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. OTHER ACTIVITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 
        an advisory committee known as the ``Advisory Committee on 
        Infant Mortality'' (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Advisory Committee'').</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide 
        advice and recommendations to the Secretary concerning the 
        following activities:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Programs of the Department of Health 
                and Human Services that are directed at reducing infant 
                mortality and improving the health status of pregnant 
                women and infants.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Factors affecting the continuum of 
                care with respect to maternal and child health care, 
                including outcomes following childbirth and 
                specifically preterm birth.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Strategies to coordinate the various 
                Federal, State, local, and private programs and efforts 
                that are designed to deal with the health and social 
                problems impacting infant mortality.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Implementation of the Healthy Start 
                program under section 330H of the Public Health Service 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-8) and Healthy People 2020 infant 
                mortality objectives.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Strategies to promote the collection 
                of improved linked maternal and infant perinatal 
                data.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Strategies to reduce preterm birth 
                rates through research, programs, and 
                education.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Plan for hhs preterm birth activities.--Not 
        later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, 
        the Advisory Committee shall develop a plan for conducting and 
        supporting research education and programs on preterm birth 
        through the Department of Health and Human Services and shall 
        periodically review and revise the plan. The plan shall--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) provide for a broad range of research 
                and educational activities relating to biomedical, 
                epidemiological, psychosocial, translational, and 
                clinical activities, including studies on racial and 
                ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) identify priorities among the programs 
                and activities of the Department of Health and Human 
                Services regarding preterm birth; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) reflect input from a broad range of 
                scientists, patients, and advocacy groups.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
        the membership of the Advisory Committee includes the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Representatives provided for in the 
                original charter of the Advisory Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) A representative of the National 
                Center for Health Statistics.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Patient Safety Study and Report.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an 
        appropriate agency within the Department of Health and Human 
        Services to conduct a study on hospital readmissions of preterm 
        infants. Findings and recommendations resulting from such study 
        shall be based on data collected to address the following 
        questions and such other related questions which the Secretary 
        and such designated agency deem important:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) By State and by health care system, 
                what is the number and rate of inpatient readmission 
                for infants born preterm?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) What are the leading diagnoses at the 
                time of inpatient readmission for preterm 
                infants?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) What is the average cost of treatment 
                for preterm infant readmissions by diagnosis, by health 
                care system, and by State?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) What percentage of readmissions are 
                preventable if evidence-based strategies had been 
                utilized?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) What percentage of treatment cost is 
                attributable to preventable readmissions?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) What is the source of health insurance 
                coverage for preterm infants who are readmitted, such 
                as through publicly funded programs (including the 
                Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security 
                Act and the Children's Health Insurance Program under 
                title XXI of such Act), private health insurance, and 
                self payments of uninsured individuals?</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) What evidence-based interventions are 
                effective in preventing readmission of preterm infants, 
                including measuring and reporting on quality of care 
                and outcomes?</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Report to secretary and congress.--Not later 
        than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        agency designated under paragraph (1) shall submit to the 
        Secretary and to Congress a report containing the findings and 
        recommendations resulting from the study conducted under such 
        subparagraph, including recommendations for hospital discharge 
        and follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates of 
        preventable hospital readmissions for preterm 
        infants.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, 
        $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prematurity Research Expansion and 
Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Reauthorization Act'' 
or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services may, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, expand, intensify, and coordinate the 
activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to 
research, including transdisciplinary research, on the causes of 
preterm labor and delivery, tools to detect, prevent, or reduce 
prevalence of preterm labor and delivery, and the care and treatment of 
preterm infants. Such activities may include--
            (1) investigating problems in clinical obstetrics, 
        particularly those related to prevention of low birth weight, 
        prematurity, and medical problems of pregnancy;
            (2) improving the care and outcomes of neonates, especially 
        very-low-birth weight infants; and
            (3) enhancing the understanding of genetics as they relate 
        to the underlying processes that lead to preterm birth to aid 
        in formulating more effective interventions to prevent preterm 
        birth.

SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND 
              PREVENTION.

    (a) Epidemiological Studies.--Section 3 of the Prematurity Research 
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 
U.S.C. 247b-4f) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(b) Studies and Activities on Preterm Birth.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for 
        Disease Control and Prevention, shall, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations--
                    ``(A) conduct epidemiological studies on the 
                clinical, biological, social, environmental, genetic, 
                and behavioral factors relating to prematurity, as 
                appropriate;
                    ``(B) conduct activities to improve national data 
                to facilitate tracking the burden of preterm birth; and
                    ``(C) continue efforts to prevent preterm birth, 
                including late preterm birth, through the 
                identification of opportunities for prevention and the 
                assessment of the impact of such efforts.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, and every 2 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
        through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress reports concerning the progress and any results of 
        studies conducted under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Reauthorization.--Section 3(e) of the Prematurity Research 
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 
U.S.C. 247b-4f(e)) is amended by striking ``2011'' and inserting 
``2017''.

SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES AT THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Telemedicine and High Risk Pregnancies.--Section 330I(i)(1)(B) 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-14(i)(1)(B)) is 
amended by striking ``or case management services'' and inserting 
``case management services, or prenatal care for high-risk 
pregnancies'';
    (b) Public and Health Care Provider Education.--Section 399Q of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-5) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                through (F) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) the core risk factors for preterm labor and 
                delivery;
                    ``(B) medically indicated deliveries before full 
                term;
                    ``(C) the importance of preconception and prenatal 
                care, including--
                            ``(i) smoking cessation;
                            ``(ii) weight maintenance and good 
                        nutrition, including folic acid;
                            ``(iii) the screening for and the treatment 
                        of infections; and
                            ``(iv) stress management;
                    ``(D) treatments and outcomes for premature 
                infants, including late preterm infants;
                    ``(E) the informational needs of families during 
                the stay of an infant in a neonatal intensive care 
                unit; and
                    ``(F) utilization of evidence-based strategies to 
                prevent birth injuries;''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(2) programs to increase the availability, awareness, and 
        use of pregnancy and post-term information services that 
        provide evidence-based, clinical information through 
        counselors, community outreach efforts, electronic or 
        telephonic communication, or other appropriate means regarding 
        causes associated with prematurity, birth defects, or health 
        risks to a post-term infant;''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``2011'' and inserting 
        ``2017''.

SEC. 5. OTHER ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low 
Birthweight.--The Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for 
Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act is amended by striking section 5 
(42 U.S.C. 247b-4g).
    (b) Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may 
        establish an advisory committee known as the ``Advisory 
        Committee on Infant Mortality'' (referred to in this section as 
        the ``Advisory Committee'').
            (2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide advice 
        and recommendations to the Secretary concerning the following 
        activities:
                    (A) Programs of the Department of Health and Human 
                Services that are directed at reducing infant mortality 
                and improving the health status of pregnant women and 
                infants.
                    (B) Strategies to coordinate the various Federal 
                programs and activities with State, local, and private 
                programs and efforts that address factors that affect 
                infant mortality.
                    (C) Implementation of the Healthy Start program 
                under section 330H of the Public Health Service Act (42 
                U.S.C. 254c-8) and Healthy People 2020 infant mortality 
                objectives.
                    (D) Strategies to reduce preterm birth rates 
                through research, programs, and education.
            (3) Plan for hhs preterm birth activities.--Not later than 
        1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
        Advisory Committee (or an existing advisory committee 
        designated by the Secretary) shall develop a plan for 
        conducting and supporting research, education, and programs on 
        preterm birth through the Department of Health and Human 
        Services and shall periodically review and revise the plan, as 
        appropriate. The plan shall--
                    (A) examine research and educational activities 
                that receive Federal funding in order to enable the 
                plan to provide informed recommendations to reduce 
                preterm birth and address racial and ethnic disparities 
                in preterm birth rates;
                    (B) identify research gaps and opportunities to 
                implement evidence-based strategies to reduce preterm 
                birth rates among the programs and activities of the 
                Department of Health and Human Services regarding 
                preterm birth, including opportunities to minimize 
                duplication; and
                    (C) reflect input from a broad range of scientists, 
                patients, and advocacy groups, as appropriate.
            (4) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        membership of the Advisory Committee includes the following:
                    (A) Representatives provided for in the original 
                charter of the Advisory Committee.
                    (B) A representative of the National Center for 
                Health Statistics.
    (c) Patient Safety Studies and Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an 
        appropriate agency within the Department of Health and Human 
        Services to coordinate existing studies on hospital 
        readmissions of preterm infants.
            (2) Report to secretary and congress.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the agency 
        designated under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary 
        and to Congress a report containing the findings and 
        recommendations resulting from the studies coordinated under 
        such paragraph, including recommendations for hospital 
        discharge and follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates of 
        preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.
                                                       Calendar No. 516

112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1440

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related 
    deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant 
                    mortality caused by prematurity.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 19, 2012

                       Reported with an amendment