[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6178 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6178
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
March 10, 2020
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Blumenauer,
and Mr. Sablan) 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 2020'' or the ``EQUIP Act of 2020''.
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 may 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 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.
``(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 women with
respect to their pregnancy 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 women.
``(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 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 goals of women with both
contraceptive and pre-pregnancy care.
``(C) Consideration of health disparities among the
population served.
``(D) Assessment of the equitable and voluntary
application of such initiatives to minority and
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 health services and
appropriate follow-up care.
``(G) Measuring through rigorous methods the effect
of such initiatives on key health outcomes.
``(2) Consultation with independent experts.--In conducting
any evaluation under paragraph (1), the Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention shall consult with
physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered
nurses, registered nurses, nurse midwives, and other health
care providers who specialize in women's health, and other
experts in public health, clinical practice, program
evaluation, and research.
``(3) 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 conducted
under paragraph (1) 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 2021 through 2023.
``(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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