[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-328
115th Congress

An Act


 
To revise and extend the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education
for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (PREEMIE Act). <>

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 ``Prematurity Research Expansion and
Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Reauthorization Act of
2018'' or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. RESEARCH RELATING TO PRETERM LABOR AND DELIVERY AND THE
CARE, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOMES OF PRETERM AND
LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS.

Section 2 of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for
Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``clinical,
biological, social, environmental, genetic, and
behavioral factors relating'' and inserting ``factors
relating to prematurity, such as clinical, biological,
social, environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors,
and other determinants that contribute to health
disparities and are related''; and
(B) <>  in paragraph
(2), by striking `` concerning the progress and any
results of studies conducted under paragraph (1)'' and
inserting ``regarding activities and studies conducted
under paragraph (1), including any applicable analyses
of preterm birth. Such report shall be posted on the
Internet website of the Department of Health and Human
Services.'';
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

``(c) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, shall--
``(1) continue systems for the collection of maternal-infant
clinical and biomedical information, including electronic health
records, electronic databases, and biobanks, to link with the
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and other
epidemiological studies of prematurity in order to track, to the
extent practicable, all pregnancy outcomes and prevent preterm
birth; and
``(2) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to
support States in improving the collection of information
pursuant to this subsection.''; and

[[Page 4472]]

(3) in subsection (e), by striking ``except for subsection
(c), $1,880,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018'' and
inserting ``$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2023''.
SEC. 3. PUBLIC AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
SERVICES.

Section 399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-5) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``conduct demonstration projects''
and inserting ``conduct activities, which may include
demonstration projects''; and
(B) by striking ``for babies born preterm'' and
inserting ``mothers of infants born preterm, and infants
born preterm, as appropriate''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``under the demonstration project'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking ``programs to test and evaluate
various strategies to provide'' and inserting
``programs, including those to test and evaluate
strategies, which, in collaboration with States,
localities, tribes, and community organizations,
support the provision of'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B)
through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G),
respectively;
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A), the
following:
``(B) evidence-based strategies to prevent preterm
birth and associated outcomes;'';
(iv) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated,
by inserting ``, and the risks of non-medically
indicated deliveries before full term'' before the
semicolon;
(v) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated--
(I) in clause (ii), by inserting
``intake'' before the semicolon;
(II) in clause (iii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(III) by redesignating clause (iv)
as clause (vii); and
(IV) by inserting after clause
(iii), the following:
``(iv) screening for and treatment of
substance use disorders;
``(v) screening for and treatment of maternal
depression;
``(vi) maternal immunization; and'';
(vi) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated,
by adding ``and'' after the semicolon;
(vii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated,
by striking ``; and'' and inserting a period; and
(viii) by striking subparagraph (G), as so
redesignated; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, as well as
prevention of a future preterm birth'' before the
semicolon.

[[Page 4473]]

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH.

Section 104(b) of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f
note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and recommendations to the Secretary
concerning the following activities'' and inserting ``,
recommendations, or information to the Secretary as may
be necessary to improve activities and programs to
reduce severe maternal morbidity, maternal mortality,
infant mortality, and preterm birth, which may include
recommendations, advice, or information related to the
following'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and improving
the health status of pregnant women and infants'' and
inserting ``, preterm birth, and improving the health
status of pregnant women and infants, and information on
cost-effectiveness and outcomes of such programs'';
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``Implementation of the'' and inserting ``The''; and
(D) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
``(D) Implementation of Healthy People objectives
related to maternal and infant health.
``(E) Strategies to reduce racial, ethnic,
geographic, and other health disparities in birth
outcomes, including by increasing awareness of Federal
programs related to appropriate access to, or
information regarding, prenatal care to address risk
factors for preterm labor and delivery.
``(F) Strategies, including the implementation of
such strategies, to address gaps in Federal research,
programs, and education efforts related to the
prevention of severe maternal morbidity, maternal
mortality, infant mortality, and other adverse birth
outcomes.'';
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraph
(4) as paragraph (3); and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Biennial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018, and
every 2 years thereafter, the Advisory Committee shall--
``(A) publish a report summarizing activities and
recommendations of the Advisory Committee since the
publication of the previous report;
``(B) submit such report to the Secretary and the
appropriate Committees of Congress; and
``(C) <>  post such report on
the Internet website of the Department of Health and
Human Services.''.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, may establish an
interagency working group in order to improve coordination of programs
and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related
adverse birth outcomes.
(b) <>  Duties.--The working group established
under subsection (a) shall--

[[Page 4474]]

(1) identify gaps, unnecessary duplication, and
opportunities for improved coordination in Federal programs and
activities related to preterm birth and infant mortality;
(2) assess the extent to which the goals and metrics of
relevant programs and activities within the Department of Health
and Human Services, and, as applicable, those in other
departments, are aligned; and
(3) assess the extent to which such programs are coordinated
across agencies within such Department; and
(4) <>  make specific
recommendations, as applicable, to reduce or minimize gaps and
unnecessary duplication, and improve coordination of goals,
programs, and activities across agencies within such Department.

(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the
working group is established under subsection (a), the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the
findings of the working group under subsection (b) and the specific
recommendations to improve Federal programs at the Department of Health
and Human Services under subsection (b)(4).

Approved December 18, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 3029:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Sept. 12, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.