The Text of The MOTHERS Act With Comments

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MOTHERS Act (Introduced in Senate)

S 1375 IS

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1375

To ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services, and to increase research at the National Institutes of Health on postpartum depression.

(************Definitions of ensure: make certain of, assure, guarantee, insure, secure, vouch, give surety or assume responsibility, doom, make certain of the failure or destruction of, make, assure the success of, be careful or certain to do something, see to it, ascertain, check, control, see, check off, tick off, mark off, tick, check, mark, verify, double-check, cinch, confirm the truth of, ascertain, find out, learn watch, determine, see; find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; cover; maintain a check on, especially by patrolling, check or regulate by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard.*********************)

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 11, 2007

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. BROWN, Mr. DODD, and Mr. LAUTENBERG) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services, and to increase research at the National Institutes of Health on postpartum depression.

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 `Mom's Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act' or the `MOTHERS Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

Postpartum depression is a devastating mood disorder which strikes many women during and after pregnancy.

(*******Definition of postpartum: In the period just after delivery. Postpartum refers to the mother and postnatal to the baby. From the Latin post, after + partum, birth.*******************)

during pregnancy and anytime within the first year of the infant's birth;

psychosis,

(***Psychosis occurs in 1/100 users of antidepressants.****)

during pregnancy and up to twelve months after delivery.

(******?????? What about 12 months and 2 days... is there a time limit? Do you really think the shrinks will let you go after that?***************)

American Psychological Association. (***actually it is the American PSYCHIATRIC Association - I wonder if they wrote it incorrectly on purpose to distract people from the fact that we are talking about psychiatric treatment here, not counseling.***)

losing touch with reality, distorted thinking, delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, and rapid speech or mania. (****Notice that this does not list suicidality or homicidality as symptoms. And what happens when you drug psychotic people with mood stabilizers? You double the risk of suicide, according to the FDA.****)

(***Psychosis occurs in 1/100 users of antidepressants.****)

(*****So how can you treat it if you don't know the cause?*************)

(****NOT A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE? OK THEN WHY ARE YOU PUSHING DRUGS? You said you do not know the causes, then you list some causes, and then you later go on to recommend medication to cure strife and financial problems, abuse, and a natural drop in hormones.***)

Postpartum depression is a treatable disorder

if promptly diagnosed by a trained provider and attended to with a personalized regimen of care including social support, therapy, medication, and when necessary hospitalization.

(**********So you must use drugs?**********)

(((((((((((******Notice they do not say that women do not get "treated" with their drugs because of the risks, and some women do not use alternative methods because that information has not been made available to them.***))))))))))))))

Untreated,

(***WHILE IF YOU DO GET TREATED with an antidepressant or anticonvulsant drug, your risk of suicide doubles and you could die from drug toxicity, kill your baby, get addicted, and have a subsequent baby's life threatened from pregnancy exposure. Or you could nurse your baby while taking Prozac or Zyprexa and your baby could die from SIDS.***)

Untreated

(****USING DRUGS negatively affects the family and society and may cause death and murder and mass murder and suicide and birth defects.*********)

will help new mothers

who are battling with postpartum conditions. (****THIS ACT WILL NOT HELP MOTHERS, IT WILL HELP DRUG COMPANIES, SOME DOCTORS AND PSYCHIATRISTS, AND PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS THAT NEED TO FILL BEDS.*****)

TITLE I--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS

SEC. 101. DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS.

Subpart 3 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-31 et seq.) is amended--

(1) by inserting after the subpart heading the following:

`CHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS';

and

(2) by adding at the end thereof the following:

`CHAPTER II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES REGARDING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS

(click here to Go to 520L)

`SEC. 520K. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS.

make grants

to provide for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and

cost-efficient

systems to--

provide education to

before such women leave their birthing centers and to screen new mothers for postpartum conditions during their first year of postnatal checkup visits, including the standard 6-week postnatal checkup visit; and

`(2) provide for the delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum conditions and their families.

Recipients of Grants

- A grant under subsection (a) may be made to an entity only if the entity--

`(1) is--

tribal government or territory

(*****I think the Native Americans have disowned the US Government so good luck trying to force screening and drugs on them.********)

homeless health center

(********So the government won't help these people get enough food or shelter, but you want the taxpayers to provide them with drugs?????????????????? Or maybe drug companies want them referred to the hospital where they can collect money on them in the psych hospital via medicaid... lock them up and throw away the keys... and their babies can go get drugs through the same funding via CPS.***********)

; or other appropriate public or nonprofit private entity

(***************Such as... CHURCHES? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to PSI to enforce the bill?? Perhaps??????????? ($$$$$$$$$$$) MOMS Clubs? WHO WILL BE YOUR MINIONS, PhRMA? Why don't you stay out of our churches and clubs and just leave us alone. Do you really not have enough customers yet?******)

; and

`(2) submits to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

`(c) Certain Activities-

`(1) EDUCATION-

ensure

that projects under subsection (a)(1) develop policies and procedures to ensure that education concerning postpartum conditions is provided to women in accordance with subparagraph (B), that training programs regarding such education are carried out at health facilities within the State, and

hat screening and referral is provided in accordance with subparagraph (C).

(***CLICK HERE TO SEE SUBPARAGRAPH C******)

shall ensure that postpartum condition education complies with the following:

Physicians, certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, nurses, and other licensed health care professionals

prenatal and postnatal

shall also provide education to women and their families concerning postpartum conditions to

promote earlier diagnosis and treatment.

All birthing facilities in the State shall provide new mothers and fathers, and other family members as appropriate, with complete information concerning postpartum condition

s, including its symptoms, methods of coping with the illness, and

treatment resources prior to such mothers leaving the birthing facility after a birth. (***"LET'S TERRIFY MOMS from the moment their babies are born by suggesting they are about to become mentally ill."***)

nature and causes of postpartum conditions.

(***THEY SAID EARLIER THAT THE CAUSES ARE UNKNOWN, SO WHAT ARE THE CAUSES THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY? A BUNCH OF THEORIES? AND THEN THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP BY A RECOMMENDATION TO DO WHAT, EXACTLY?***)

shall ensure

within the first year after the birth of their child, are offered screenings for postpartum conditions by using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS),

If the results of such screening provide warning signs for postpartum conditions, the new mother shall be referred to an appropriate mental healthcare provider.

(******OTHERWISE KNOWN AS: A STATE SHALL ENSURE IF WARNING SIGNS EXIST THAT MOMS GET REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.*****)

Click here to go back to paragraph C1A... (CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT PSYCHIATRISTS CONSIDER A RISK FACTOR OR WARNING SIGN AND NOTICE THAT IT DOES NOT SAY SYMPTOMS in the paragraph above, just warning signs)

`(D) SUBGRANTS- A State that receives a grant or contract under subsection (a)(1) to carry out activities under this paragraph may award subgrants to entities described in subsection (b)(1)(B) to enable such entities to provide education of this type described in subparagraph (B).

`(2) SERVICES- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects under subsection (a)(2) provide services for the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. Activities that the Secretary may authorize for such projects may also include the following:

Delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-based health and support services, including

case management (******??????*******), screening and comprehensive treatment services for individuals with

or at risk for

postpartum conditions, and delivering or enhancing support services for their families. (*******SUCH AS??????????**********)

Delivering or enhancing inpatient care management services

that

ensure

the well being of the mother and family and the future development of the infant.

(***If that were true you would not be recommending that the mother be locked up away from her baby, traumatizing him and her early in his life, or that she take drugs which could damage his body and brain through her milk, or make his mother kill him or herself.***)

(including

transportation services, attendant care, homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for individuals with postpartum conditions and support services for their families.

(***The MOTHER will receive transportation services if she is taken to a hospital by police. And, in case she gets put on sedatives, and neuroleptics, she would need more "transportation services" because she would no longer be a safe driver.***)

`(d) Integration With Other Programs- To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall integrate the program under this title with other grant programs carried out by the Secretary, including the program under section 330.

`SEC. 520L. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

provide technical assistance to assist entities in

complying with the requirements

of this chapter

in order to make such entities eligible to receive grants

under section 520K. (click here to go to 520K)

(***********We'll give you money if you get moms on drugs.*********)

`SEC. 520M. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

there are authorized to be appropriated such

sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010.'.

((*****$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$***********))

TITLE II--RESEARCH ON POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS

SEC. 201. CONSENSUS RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND PLAN CONCERNING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS.

Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 409J. CONSENSUS RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND PLAN CONCERNING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOSIS.

`(a) Consensus Research Conference and Plan-

`(1) CONFERENCE- The Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the heads of other Federal agencies that administer Federal health programs including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall organize a series of national meetings that are designed to develop a research plan for postpartum depression and psychosis (referred to in this section as `postpartum condition').

`(2) PLAN- The Secretary, taking into account the findings of the research conference under paragraph (1), shall develop a research plan relating to postpartum conditions. Such plan shall include--

research

concerning the etiology and causes of postpartum conditions;

and the differences among racial and ethnic groups with respect to such conditions;

(*****RESEARCH ON MINORITIES??????????*******)

`(C) the development of improved diagnostic techniques relating to postpartum conditions; and

clinical research for the development and evaluation of new treatments for postpartum conditions, including new biological agents.

`(3) REPORT- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the research plan under paragraph (2).

`(b) Activity Relating to Research Plan-

After the development of the research plan under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH

shall expand and intensify research a

nd related activities of the Institutes relating to postpartum conditions in a manner appropriate to carry out such

plan

, and in particular shall direct research efforts to carry out such plan.

(**************WHERE IS ALL THIS MONEY COMING FROM??????? REMIND ME, WHY DO WE SEND YOU MONEY??????????********************)