[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6743 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6743
To amend the Public Health Service Act to include public awareness
about menopause and related chronic conditions, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 13, 2023
Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself and Mrs. Harshbarger) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to include public awareness
about menopause and related chronic conditions, and for other purposes.
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 ``We're Addressing the Realities of
Menopause Act of 2023'' or the ``WARM Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. MENOPAUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247b) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(o) Menopause Public Awareness Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall carry out a national program to increase awareness of--
``(A) symptoms and trajectories of changes across
the menopausal transition and the postmenopausal
transition;
``(B) related chronic conditions; and
``(C) the entire range of treatment and therapy
options that may, consistent with Federal law, be
prescribed by a health care provider for those
symptoms, changes, and conditions.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the national campaign
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the
Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of
the National Institute on Aging, the Administrator of the
Health Resources and Services Administration, the Director of
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Under
Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Director of the Defense Health Agency, the Director of the
Indian Health Service, health care providers, public health
associations, nonprofit organizations that promote the health
and quality of life of women during midlife and beyond, and
nonprofit organizations with expertise in menopause research
and advocacy, to solicit input on evidence-informed information
for policy development and program development, implementation,
and evaluation.
``(3) Requirements.--The national campaign required by
paragraph (1) may--
``(A) include the use of evidence-informed media
and public engagement;
``(B) include the development of educational
programs, materials, and public service announcements;
``(C) include the development of culturally and
linguistically competent resources tailored for--
``(i) communities or groups with more
severe or frequent symptoms of menopause or
lower rates of treatment for symptoms of
menopause;
``(ii) rural communities; and
``(iii) other communities as the Secretary
determines appropriate;
``(D) include the dissemination of educational
programs, materials, and public service announcements
to--
``(i) health care providers, health care
facilities (including primary care providers,
community health centers, rural health clinics,
obstetricians, and gynecologists), and State
and local public health departments; and
``(ii) other entities as the Secretary
determines appropriate to increase awareness as
described in paragraph (1);
``(E) be complementary to, and coordinated with,
any other Federal efforts with respect to menopause
education and treatment; and
``(F) include message testing to identify
culturally competent and effective messages for
behavioral change.
``(4) Options for dissemination of information.--The
national campaign required by paragraph (1) may--
``(A) include the use of--
``(i) social media, television, radio,
print, the internet, and other media;
``(ii) in-person or virtual public
communications; and
``(iii) licensed health care providers and
members of target communities or groups
specified in paragraph (3)(C);
``(B) be targeted to specific groups and
communities specified in paragraph (3)(C); and
``(C) be carried out through grants or cooperative
agreements to private nonprofit entities with a history
of developing and implementing similar campaigns.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--Of amounts made
available to the Secretary for other purposes, the Secretary
may use up to $70,000,000 of such amounts for the period of
fiscal years 2025 through 2028 for the purpose of carrying out
the program under this section.''.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than the end of calendar year
2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and
Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Finance, the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a report that contains--
(1) a qualitative assessment of the public awareness
program under section 317(o) of the Public Health Service Act,
as added by subsection (a); and
(2) a description of the activities conducted under such
campaign.
SEC. 3. MENOPAUSE EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS.
Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 757 (42 U.S.C. 294f) the
following:
``SEC. 758. MENOPAUSE EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, in consultation
with the Director of the National Institute on Aging, the directors of
other institutes, centers, and offices of the National Institutes of
Health as determined appropriate by the Secretary, the Director of the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Under Secretary for
Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the
Defense Health Agency, and the Director of the Indian Health Service,
shall award grants to eligible entities for the purposes described in
subsection (b).
``(b) Use of Funds.--A grant received under this section shall be
used for any of the following:
``(1) Training (including for individuals completing a
residency, fellowship, or other clinical training for
licensure) for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician
assistants, registered nurses, and pharmacists to improve
communication and provider preparedness in the management of
menopausal symptoms and related chronic conditions.
``(2) Establishing, maintaining, or improving academic
units or programs that provide training for students or
faculty, including through clinical experiences and research,
to improve the ability to be able to recognize, diagnose, and
treat menopause symptoms and related chronic conditions.
``(3) Developing evidence-informed practices or
recommendations for the design of units or programs referred to
in paragraph (2), including curriculum content standards.
``(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an entity shall be located in the United States and--
``(1) a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine, a
school of nursing (as defined in section 801), a physician
assistant training program, a school of pharmacy, an accredited
public or nonprofit private hospital, or an accredited medical
residency program; or
``(2) a public or private nonprofit entity which the
Secretary has determined is capable of carrying out the program
or activities to be funded through the grant.
``(d) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible,
that such grants are equitably distributed among the geographical
regions of the United States.
``(e) Partnership Required.--As a condition on receipt of a grant
under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to carry out the
program or activities to be funded through the grant in partnership
with one or more organizations such as an education accrediting
organization (such as the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Commission on
Osteopathic College Accreditation, the Accreditation Commission for
Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education,
the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, or the Accreditation
Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant).
``(f) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To seek a grant under this section, an
eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary,
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as may be specified by the Secretary.
``(2) Minimum contents.--At a minimum, an application under
paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) a description of how the eligible entity
intends to implement the activities required by
subsection (b); and
``(B) a description of benchmarks to be used to
measure the success of the implementation of such
activities.
``(g) Administrative Provisions.--
``(1) Period of grants.--A grant awarded to an eligible
entity under this section shall be for the period beginning on
the date of the award and ending on the date that is 5 years
after the establishment of the grant program under this
section.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
``(A) demonstrate sufficient size, scope, and
capacity to carry out the training described in
subsection (b) with respect to an appropriate number of
physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants,
registered nurses, and pharmacists each year to meet
the needs of the area to be served;
``(B) demonstrate experience in training providers
to practice team-based care that integrates menopause
training and treatment protocols with primary care in
community-based settings; and
``(C) have the capacity to expand access to
menopause training and treatment services in areas with
demonstrated need, as determined by the Secretary, such
as Tribal, rural, or other underserved communities.
``(h) Data Submission; Reporting.--
``(1) Data submission by grantees.--Not later than 90 days
after the first year of a training program funded through a
grant under this section, and not later than 90 days after each
subsequent year of such training program during which such
funding continues, the recipient of the grant shall submit to
the Secretary such data as the Secretary may require for
purposes of preparing the report under paragraph (2).
``(2) Report to congress.-- Not later than 1 year after
receipt under paragraph (1) of data from grantees for a year,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, the Committee on Ways and Means, the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Finance, the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a report that
includes--
``(A) the findings and conclusions of the Secretary
with respect to menopause curricula in schools and
training programs receiving funding through a grant
under this section;
``(B) an assessment of the benefits of the grant
program under this section for--
``(i) establishing best practices for
health care providers to treat patients in the
clinical setting;
``(ii) providing greater awareness of
menopause and related chronic conditions to--
``(I) physicians and other health
care professionals; and
``(II) patients of such physicians
and professionals; and
``(iii) improving the quality, quantity,
and distribution of menopause treatment and
training; and
``(C) a description of the benefits of, and
barriers to, integrating menopause curricula at health
professions schools and training programs.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of amounts made available
to the Secretary for other purposes, the Secretary may use up to
$31,700,000 of such amounts for the period of fiscal years 2025 through
2028 for the purpose of carrying out the program under this section.''.
SEC. 4. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MENOPAUSE EDUCATION.
Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 294
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 758 (as added by section
3) the following:
``SEC. 758A. REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MENOPAUSE EDUCATION.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with such other
officials as the Secretary determines appropriate, shall award
cooperative agreements to eligible entities for--
``(1) the designation of such entities as Regional Centers
of Excellence in Menopause Education; and
``(2) the support of such Regional Centers of Excellence to
enhance and improve how health professionals are educated in
menopause through development, evaluation, and distribution of
evidence-based curricula for health professions schools.
``(b) Selection of Regional Centers of Excellence.--
``(1) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a
cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(A) be an entity offering education to students
in various health professions, such as--
``(i) a health system;
``(ii) a teaching hospital;
``(iii) a medical school, a school of
nursing (as defined in section 801), a school
offering a physician assistant education
program, or a school of pharmacy; and
``(iv) any other health profession school,
school of public health, or institution of
higher education engaged in an aspect of the
management of menopause;
``(B) be accredited by the appropriate educational
accreditation body;
``(C) demonstrate an existing strategy, and have in
place a plan for continuing such strategy, or have a
proposed strategy, to implement a curriculum based on
best practices for menopause treatment and education;
and
``(D) provide to the Secretary such information, at
such time, and in such manner, as the Secretary may
require.
``(2) Diversity.--In awarding cooperative agreements under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(A) take into account regional differences among
eligible entities; and
``(B) make an effort to ensure geographic
diversity.
``(c) Dissemination of Information.--
``(1) Public posting.--The Secretary shall make information
provided to the Secretary under subsection (b)(1)(D) publicly
available on the website of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
``(2) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) evaluate each project carried out by a
Regional Center of Excellence in Menopause Education
through funding received under this section; and
``(B) disseminate the results of each such
evaluation to appropriate public and private entities.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of amounts made available
to the Secretary for other purposes, the Secretary may use such sums as
may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2028 for
the purpose of carrying out the program under this section.''.
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