[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2722 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2722
To facilitate identification and dissemination of evidence-informed
recommendations for addressing maternal addiction and neonatal
abstinence syndrome and to provide for studies with respect to neonatal
abstinence syndrome.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31, 2014
Mr. McConnell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To facilitate identification and dissemination of evidence-informed
recommendations for addressing maternal addiction and neonatal
abstinence syndrome and to provide for studies with respect to neonatal
abstinence syndrome.
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 ``Protecting Our Infants Act of
2014''.
SEC. 2. EVIDENCE-INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO MATERNAL
ADDICTION AND NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall coordinate and
facilitate the--
(1) identification and compilation of evidence-informed
recommendations for physicians, nurses, and hospital facilities
with respect to neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
(2) identification of any gaps, as appropriate, in such
evidence-informed recommendations that may require additional
research or analysis with respect to--
(A) screening and intervention for maternal
substance abuse, including the misuse or abuse of
prescription drugs in women of childbearing age and
pregnant women;
(B) treatment for pregnant and postpartum women
with a substance use disorder, including the misuse or
abuse of prescription drugs;
(C) screening of infants for neonatal abstinence
syndrome and for the risk of developing neonatal
abstinence syndrome;
(D) treatment for infants with neonatal abstinence
syndrome, including evidence-informed recommendations
surrounding evaluation and treatment with
pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions;
and
(E) ongoing treatment, services, and supports for
postpartum women with a substance use disorder,
including misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, and
infants and children with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
(b) Input.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall
consider input from stakeholders, such as health professionals, public
health officials, and law enforcement.
(c) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall disseminate
to appropriate stakeholders in States and local communities the
evidence-informed recommendations identified under subsection (a).
(d) Addressing Research Needs for Maternal Addiction and Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to evaluate--
(1) factors related to the increased prevalence of maternal
opiate misuse and abuse;
(2) factors related to maternal misuse and abuse of
opiates, including--
(A) barriers to identifying and treating maternal
misuse and abuse of opiates; and
(B) the most effective prevention and treatment
strategies for pregnant women and other women of
childbearing age who are at risk for or dependent on
opiates; and
(3) factors related to neonatal abstinence syndrome,
including--
(A) epidemiological studies concerning neonatal
abstinence syndrome;
(B) the most effective methods to diagnose and
treat neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
(C) the long-term effects of neonatal abstinence
syndrome and the need for a longer-term study on
infants and children at risk for developing neonatal
abstinence syndrome or diagnosed with neonatal
abstinence syndrome.
(e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives the findings from
the study under subsection (d) and a report that identifies the gaps in
evidence-informed recommendations that require additional research or
analysis, and priority areas for additional research.
SEC. 3. IMPROVING DATA ON NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall
provide technical assistance to States to improve the availability and
quality of data collection and surveillance activities regarding
neonatal abstinence syndrome, including--
(1) incidence and prevalence of neonatal abstinence
syndrome;
(2) the identification of causes for neonatal abstinence
syndrome, including new and emerging trends; and
(3) the identification of demographics and other relevant
information associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
SEC. 4. PAIN MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES.
It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the National
Institutes of Health should continue research with respect to pain
management, including for women of childbearing age.
SEC. 5. GAO STUDY.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study
evaluating--
(1) the availability and effectiveness of federally
facilitated substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant
women and their children;
(2) the availability and effectiveness of Federal programs
that encourage State adoption and implementation of programs to
ensure--
(A) the safety and health of mothers who have a
substance use disorder; and
(B) the safety and health of children with neonatal
abstinence syndrome;
(3) the effectiveness of Federal data systems and
surveillance programs used to monitor or track drug utilization
and resulting trends, including whether information on neonatal
abstinence syndrome is incorporated into such data systems; and
(4) the identification of the use of all discretionary
funds to address maternal substance abuse, including the misuse
and abuse of prescription drugs.
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