Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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

(a) Expansion and intensification of activities.—

(1) CONTINUATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary is encouraged to expand and intensify activities on postpartum conditions.

(2) PROGRAMS FOR POSTPARTUM CONDITIONS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary is encouraged to continue research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions, including conducting and supporting the following:

(A) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of the conditions.

(B) Epidemiological studies to address the frequency and natural history of the conditions and the differences among racial and ethnic groups with respect to the conditions.

(C) The development of improved screening and diagnostic techniques.

(D) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments.

(E) Information and education programs for health professionals and the public, which may include a coordinated national campaign that—

(i) is designed to increase the awareness and knowledge of postpartum conditions;

(ii) may include public service announcements through television, radio, and other means; and

(iii) may focus on—

(I) raising awareness about screening;

(II) educating new mothers and their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment; and

(III) ensuring that such education includes complete information concerning postpartum conditions, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and treatment resources.

(b) Report by the Secretary.—

(1) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study on the benefits of screening for postpartum conditions.

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the study required by paragraph (1) and submit a report to the Congress on the results of such study.

(c) Sense of Congress regarding longitudinal study of relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy.—

(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study (during the period of fiscal years 2011 through 2020) on the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy (intended and unintended) in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. This study may assess the incidence, timing, magnitude, and duration of the immediate and long-term mental health consequences (positive or negative) of these pregnancy outcomes.

(2) REPORT.—Beginning not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for the duration of the study, such Director may prepare and submit to the Congress reports on the findings of the study.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “postpartum condition” means postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis.

(2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(e) Authorization of appropriations.—For the purpose of carrying out this section, in addition to any other amounts authorized to be appropriated for such purpose, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.