A bill to promote greater equity in the delivery of health care services to American women through expanded research on women's health issues and through improved access to health care services, including preventive health services.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Research
Subtitle A: Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of
1996
Subtitle B: HHS Women Scientists Employment Opportunity
Act
Subtitle C: Women and AIDS Research Initiative
Amendments of 1996
Subtitle D: Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research
and Prevention Act
Subtitle E: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
Research Act of 1996
Subtitle F: Lupus Research Amendments of 1996
Subtitle G: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information
Amendments of 1996
Subtitle H: HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research
Resolution of 1996
Subtitle I: Office for Rare Disease Research Act of
1996
Subtitle J: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health
Act of 1996
Subtitle K: Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of
1996
Subtitle L: Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer
Research Act
Subtitle M: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of
1996
Subtitle N: Breast Cancer Screening
Title II: Services
Subtitle A: Women's Health Office Act of 1996
Subtitle B: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in
Health Insurance Act of 1996
Subtitle C: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies
Act of 1996
Subtitle D: Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological
Disorders Act of 1996
Subtitle E: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act
Subtitle F: Insurance Protection for Victims of
Domestic Violence Act
Subtitle G: Domestic Violence Victims Insurance
Protection Act of 1996
Subtitle H: Fairness to Minority Women Health Act
Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects
Act
Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education
Act of 1996
Subtitle K: Women's Choice and Reproductive Health
Protection Act of 1996
Subtitle L: Women's Right to Know Act of 1996
Subtitle M: International Population Stabilization and
Reproductive Health Act
Subtitle N: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital
Mutilation Act of 1996
Subtitle O: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act
Subtitle P: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC
Clinics Act
Subtitle Q: Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Prevention Act
Subtitle R: Postreproductive Health Care Act
Subtitle S: Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act
of 1996
Subtitle T: Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of
1996
Subtitle U: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement
Standardization Act of 1996
Subtitle V: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders
Resource Center Act of 1996
Subtitle W: Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of
1996
Subtitle X: Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection
Subtitle Y: Obstetrician-Gynecologists as Primary Care
Providers
Women's Health Equity Act of 1996 - Title I: Research - Subtitle A: Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of 1996 - Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for breast cancer research.
Subtitle B: HHS Women Scientists Employment Opportunity Act - HHS Women Scientist Employment Opportunity Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish policies for the Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the employment of women scientists; and (2) monitor compliance and take appropriate action if policies have been violated. Mandates implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on the Status of NIH (National Institutes of Health) Intramural Women Scientists. Provides for a study and report on pay equity. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle C: Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 - Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 - Mandates a program to conduct biomedical and behavioral research (directly or through grants) on cases of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle D: Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research and Prevention Act - Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research and Prevention Act - Mandates expansion, intensification, and coordination of research and related activities of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with regard to cardiovascular diseases in women. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle E: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 - Requires specified institutes of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify research on osteoporosis and related bone diseases. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle F: Lupus Research Amendments of 1996 - Lupus Research Amendments of 1996 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to lupus. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle G: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1996 - Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1996 - Authorizes appropriations for research on ovarian cancer.
Subtitle H: HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research Resolution of 1996 - HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research Resolution of 1996 - Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that, in conducting cervical cancer research, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases should collaborate in sponsoring basic and clinical research on human papilloma virus diagnosis and prevention as a risk of cervical cancer and, as applicable, develop screening techniques.
Subtitle I: Office for Rare Disease Research Act of 1996 - Office for Rare Disease Research Act of 1996 - Establishes, in the National Institutes of Health, the Office for Rare Disease Research.
Subtitle J: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1996 - Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1996 - Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to conduct a review of all Federal programs that assess or mitigate the risks to women's health from environmental exposures. Provides for a study and report to the Congress.
Subtitle K: Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of 1996 - Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of 1996 - Mandates a report to the Congress: (1) summarizing the body of scientific knowledge on environmental effects on women's health; and (2) specifying an agenda for the conduct and support of research.
Subtitle L: Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act - Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act - Requires the National Cancer Institute, to the extent practicable, to increase the involvement of people who are accountable to, represent, and report back to organizations that represent those affected by breast cancer in decision making at the Institute regarding breast cancer.
Subtitle M: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 - Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 - Requires that $44 million of the first $191 million appropriated to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism be obligated for research on alcohol abuse and alcoholism among women. Authorizes appropriations (in addition to the existing authorization of appropriations for the Institute) for such research regarding women.
Subtitle N: Accurate Mammography Guidelines Act of 1996 - Accurate Mammography Guidelines Act of 1996 - Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding mammography screening studies and guidelines.
Title II: Services - Subtitle A: Women's Health Office Act of 1996 - Women's Health Office Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish an Office of (or on) Women's Health and a related coordinating committee in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Health Care Resources and Services Administration, and the Office of the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Amends the PHSA to establish a related advisory committee.
Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle B: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 1996 - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 1996 - Prohibits insurance providers from: (1) denying or canceling health insurance coverage or varying the premiums, terms, or conditions of coverage on the basis of genetic information or on the basis that the individual or family involved has requested or received genetic services; (2) requesting or requiring insured individuals or applicants to disclose genetic information; or (3) disclosing genetic information without prior written authorization.
Subtitle C: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1996 - Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1996 - Prohibits a health plan from denying, limiting, imposing additional conditions on, or discriminating against an enrollee on the basis of the enrollee's participation in an approved clinical study.
Subtitle D: Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological Disorders Act of 1996 - Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological Disorders Act of 1996 - States that the standards for the nondiscriminatory and equitable treatment by employer health benefit plans of individuals with neurobiological disorders require that such plans provide for coverage of services essential to the effective treatment of such disorders in a specified manner.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a noncompliance tax of up to 25 percent.
Subtitle E: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits insurers and health carriers from denying, terminating, or limiting coverage on the basis that the applicant or insured is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse involving household or family members, current or former spouses, or individuals in or formerly in a sexually intimate relationship.
Requires an insurer that takes any adverse action relating to any plan or policy of an abuse subject (whether applicant or insured) to advise such individual of the specific reasons for the action.
Subtitle F: Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act - Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title prohibiting health insurers from discriminating against an individual or group because the individual or a family member is the subject of abuse. Mandates development of model standards.
Provides for application the amendments made by this subtitle to specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Subtitle G: Domestic Violence Victims Insurance Protection Act of 1996 - Domestic Violence Victims Insurance Protection Act of 1996 - Prohibits insurers from denying or cancelling insurance coverage for individuals solely on the basis that the individual is or has been the subject of an act of domestic violence.
Subtitle H: Fairness to Minority Women Health Act - Fairness to Minority Women Health Act - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exempt aliens and their children from provisions attributing to the alien the income and resources of the sponsor and the sponsor's spouse if the alien is battered by, or the subject of extreme cruelty by, the person who executed the affidavit of support or similar agreement regarding the alien.
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments to States for obstetrical or gynecological services unless the hospital, clinic, or provider has available at least one individual who is able to communicate in the predominant language used by residents of the area. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow grants (under existing provisions) for family planning projects only if the service providers under the grant have at least one such individual. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to prohibit making funds available under the Act unless providers of shelter or related assistance have at least one such individual.
Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects Act - Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects Act - Mandates grants for the establishment or support of adolescent health demonstration projects. Prohibits using grant funds to perform or pay for abortions.
Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1996 - Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for a program of information and education to the public concerning the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle K: Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1996 - Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to authorize appropriations for population research and family planning programs.
Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit any government authority from limiting the right of any individual to provide or receive nonfraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care services.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) assure that the Food and Drug Administration evaluates the drug Mifepristone or RU 486; and (2) assess initiatives by which the Department of Health and Human Services can promote the testing, licensing, and manufacturing of the drug Mifepristone or other antiprogestins in the United States. Prohibits Federal law from being construed to prohibit health insurance providers from offering coverage for any reproductive health care services, including abortion services.
Amends Federal law to provide that the performance of an abortion in a facility of the uniformed services located outside the 48 contiguous States of the United States is not prohibited, provided specific requirements are met.
Subtitle L: Women's Right To Know Act of 1996 - Women's Right To Know Act of 1996 - Amends title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit a governmental authority, in or through any program or activity that provides health care services or information, from limiting the right of any person to provide or to receive nonfraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care services, including family planning, prenatal care, adoption, and abortion services.
Subtitle M: International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth population assistance authorities and requirements.
Authorizes appropriations for voluntary population planning under existing provisions.
Makes development assistance available on a priority basis for countries which have agreed to address specific education, literacy, and health issues.
Authorizes the President to establish a grant program, to be known as the Safe Motherhood Initiative, to improve the access of girls and women to reproductive health care services.
Authorizes appropriations for the Child Survival Fund, the Safe Motherhood Initiative, and for research on, and treatment and control of, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries.
Subtitle N: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 - Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for knowingly circumcising, excising, or infibulating any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of another person who has not attained age 18, subject to medical exceptions.
Subtitle O: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants, with regard to women (and their partners) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), for preventive health services, referrals, follow-ups, outreach, and training on the effective provision of such services. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes grants to provide HIV prevention education to women. Sets forth requirements regarding the composition of Planning Councils. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide: (1) substance abuse treatment to women; (2) counseling to women who engage in substance abuse on the prevention of infection with, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for AIDS; and (3) such counseling to women who are the partners of individuals who abuse substances. Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes appropriations for grants under existing provisions to provide early intervention services for women and related technical assistance.
Subtitle P: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the State agency responsible for nutrition education and drug abuse education to establish a smoking cessation demonstration program for pregnant participants.
Subtitle Q: Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act - Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish: (1) a program for the conduct and support of research and training, the dissemination of health information, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects; and (2) the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Subtitle R: Postreproductive Health Care Act - Postreproductive Health Care Act - Mandates grants for: (1) prevention and outpatient treatment of, and counseling for, health conditions unique to, more serious, or more prevalent for women of menopausal age or older, or for which the medical risk or types of medical intervention are different; and (2) related education and training of health professionals. Authorizes appropriations.
Subtitle S: Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act of 1996 - Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage for respite care services, defined as companion or homemaker services, personal assistance, community day services, or temporary residential care furnished on a short-term, intermittent, or emergency basis.
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to deductions for medical care to include qualified long-term care services as medical care.
Subtitle T: Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 - Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements regarding the coverage of mammograms.
Subtitle U: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996 - Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996 - Provides for Medicare coverage of bone mass measurements.
Subtitle V: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996 - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations, in addition to other authorizations of appropriations, for the establishment and operation of a clearinghouse on osteoporosis and related bone disorders.
Subtitle W: Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 1996 - Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 1996 - Amends Federal law relating to veterans' benefits to include women's health services in the definition of "medical services." Sets forth requirements concerning studies and reports.
Subtitle X: Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection - Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 - Requires health plans and employee health benefit plans that provide maternity (including childbirth) benefits to ensure that coverage is provided for: (1) specified minimum periods after delivery; and (2) certain post-delivery care.
Subtitle Y: Obstetrician-Gynecologists as Primary Care Providers - Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that: (1) obstetrician-gynecologists should be included as primary care providers for women in Federal health care laws; and (2) legislative proposals that define primary care should include services performed by obstetrician-gynecologists in that definition.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5571)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line