Search is Powered by Google
Women's Health / Gynecology News

House Approves Bill That Would Encourage Postpartum Depression Research, Awareness Campaign

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Depression;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 17 Oct 2007 - 5:00 PDT

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article
Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:not yet rated

Health Professional:5 stars

5 (1 votes)

Article Opinions: 0 posts

The House on Monday voted 382-3 to pass a bill (HR 20) that would authorize $3 million in grants in fiscal year 2008 to study the causes and treatments of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, CQ Today reports (Armstrong, CQ Today, 10/15).

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), also would provide grants through HHS for the "establishment, operation and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services" for women with the conditions and their families. The measure initially would have directed NIH to conduct research on postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, but a House subcommittee in July approved an amendment that changed the language from "directed" to "encouraged." The bill would authorize "such sums as necessary" to continue the research for FY 2009 and FY 2010 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/28). According to the Congressional Budget Office, the measure could cost $15 million over five years if grants and other programs in the bill are funded (CQ Today, 10/15).

The bill also encourages the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH and the HHS secretary to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, the AP/Google.com reports. The measure also includes language that calls for a study into mental health issues related to abortion and miscarriages. Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.), who opposes abortion rights, said that although postpartum depression is a serious disease, it is "just as important to know the effects of adoption, miscarriage and abortion in order to properly help women" (Abrams, AP/Google.com, 10/15).

According to a CDC study, about 18% of women experience depression after giving birth. The Senate has introduced a companion bill (S 1375) that does not contain abortion-related language. According to a Rush aide, Rush's staff will speak with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), sponsor of the Senate legislation, about making his measure more similar to the House bill. Rush said, "No longer will postpartum depression be dismissed as mere 'baby blues'" (CQ Today, 10/15).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.




Customized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Home About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Links Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Contact Us
Psychiatry Urology
Bipolar Diabetes Schizophrenia

customize your homepage

medical news gadget

Add to Google


developers
website gadget code
website news code
medical news rss feed links


MedReader RSS Reader

customize your homepage


Treating Postpartum Depression image Treating Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression affects anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of new moms. Thankfully, postpartum depression is an extremely treatable illness...

Talking with Your Doctor image Talking with Your Doctor

Talking with your doctor can sometimes be difficult. Good health care, however, depends on an open dialogue between patients and doctors...

View more videos...