Senate HELP Committee To Consider Postpartum Depression, Breast Cancer Bills

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Depression;  Breast Cancer;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 15 Feb 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday is expected to approve several health bills related to postpartum depression, Healthy Start, breast cancer research, and Down syndrome CQ Today reports.

One of the bills (HR 20) expected to pass would authorize $3 million in grants in fiscal year 2008, as well as "such sums as may be necessary" in FY 2009 and FY 2010, to study the causes and treatment of postpartum depression. The House approved the measure in October 2007 after resolving disagreements about abortion-related provisions, CQ Today reports (Armstrong, CQ Today, 2/13).

The measure includes language that calls for HHS to conduct research on mental health issues related to postpartum depression and psychosis. The bill also encourages NIH and the Health Resources and Services Administration to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, authorizes $3 million in grants from HHS, and gives the director of the National Institute of Mental Health the option to conduct a survey of abortion and miscarriage-related issues (HR 20 text, 2/14). The House passed the measure on Oct.15, 2007, after the abortion-related compromise language was added to the bill.

HELP committee members also are expected to approve a bill (S 1760) that would reauthorize Healthy Start, which provides funding to localities for services to reduce infant mortality and morbidity. The bill would authorize $120 million in FY 2008 and $120 million for each year between FY 2009 through FY 2013, with adjustments for inflation. The funds would go toward improving prenatal care and basic infant health (CQ Today, 2/13).

The breast cancer research bill (S 579), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), would authorize $40 million annually for FY 2008 through FY 2012 for the research. The bill also would mandate the creation of a national breast cancer strategy and focus attention on research into the possible environmental causes of the disease (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/21/07).

Committee members also are likely to approve a bill (S 1810) that would require providers, when giving a diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally or postnatally diagnosed conditions, to provide comprehensive medical information, CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 2/13). The bill, introduced by Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in November 2007, would increase access to information about life expectancy, referrals to support groups and options for caring for children with the conditions (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/30). The bill would also create a database of parents willing to adopt children with Down syndrome and would authorize $5 million annually, from FY 2008 to FY 2013 (CQ Today, 2/13).

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