[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8834 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8834
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a demonstration
program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention
screening initiatives by health care and social service providers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 15, 2022
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Ms. Norton, Mr.
Larson of Connecticut, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr.
Blumenauer, Ms. Chu, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Speier, Mrs. Torres of
California, Mr. Khanna, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Deutch, and Ms. Lee of
California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a demonstration
program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention
screening initiatives by health care and social service providers.
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 ``Enhancing Questions to Understand
Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2022'' or the ``EQUIP Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. PREGNANCY INTENTION SCREENING INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 399V-7. PREGNANCY INTENTION SCREENING INITIATIVE DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Establishment.--The Secretary, through the Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish a
demonstration program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy
intention screening initiatives by health care and social service
providers.
``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration
program through awarding grants to eligible entities to implement
pregnancy intention screening initiatives, collect data, and evaluate
such initiatives.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity under this section is
an entity described in paragraph (2) that provides non-
directive, comprehensive, medically accurate information.
``(2) Entities described.--For purposes of paragraph (1),
an entity described in this paragraph--
``(A) is a community-based organization, voluntary
health organization, public health department,
community health center, or other interested public or
private primary, behavioral, or other health care or
social service provider or organization; and
``(B) does not include any crisis pregnancy center
or other anti-abortion organization that presents
itself as a comprehensive reproductive health care
provider but has the intent of discouraging pregnant
people from accessing abortion care.
``(d) Pregnancy Intention Screening Initiative.--For purposes of
this section, the term `pregnancy intention screening initiative' means
any initiative by an eligible entity to routinely screen people with
respect to their pregnancy and reproductive health desires and goals to
either prevent unintended pregnancies or improve the likelihood of
healthy pregnancies, in order to better provide health care that meets
the contraceptive or pre-pregnancy needs and goals of such people.
``(e) Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall, by grant or contract, and after consultation as
described in paragraph (2), conduct an evaluation of the
demonstration program, with respect to pregnancy intention
screening initiatives, conducted under this section. Such an
evaluation shall include:
``(A) Assessment of the implementation of pregnancy
intention screening protocols among a diverse group of
patients and providers, including collecting data on
the experiences and outcomes for diverse patient
populations in a variety of clinical and social service
settings.
``(B) Analysis of outcome measures that will
facilitate effective and widespread adoption of such
protocols by health care providers for inquiring about
and responding to pregnancy and reproductive health
goals of people with both contraceptive and pre-
pregnancy care.
``(C) Consideration of health disparities among the
populations served.
``(D) Assessment of the equitable and voluntary
implementation of such initiatives to Black,
Indigenous, and people of color, and other medically
underserved communities.
``(E) Assessment of the training, capacity, and
ongoing technical assistance needed for providers to
effectively implement such pregnancy intention
screening protocols.
``(F) Assessment of whether referral systems for
selected protocols follow evidence-based standards that
ensure access to comprehensive culturally competent and
gender affirming health services and appropriate
follow-up care.
``(G) Measuring through rigorous methods the effect
of such initiatives on key health outcomes.
``(2) Cost study.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall, by grant or contract, conduct a study assessing the time
and cost for providers to administer pregnancy intention
screening tools and provide related counseling in a diverse
array of settings.
``(3) Consultation with independent experts.--In conducting
any evaluation under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall consult
with physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice
registered nurses, registered nurses, nurse midwives,
behavioral health providers, other health care providers who
specialize in reproductive and sexual health, human services
providers, and other experts in public health, clinical
practice, program evaluation, and research.
``(4) Report.--Not later than one year after the last day
of the demonstration program under this section, the Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit
to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation and study
conducted under paragraphs (1) and (2) and shall make the
report publicly available.
``(f) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2025.
``(2) Limitation.--Not more than 20 percent of funds
appropriated to carry out this section pursuant to paragraph
(1) for a fiscal year may be used for purposes of the
evaluation under subsection (e).''.
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