WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), today held a legislative hearing entitled, “Examining Legislation to Improve Health Care and Treatment." The subcommittee considered six bipartisan bills to address shortcomings in current law and work to reauthorize an important nursing training program.
One of the bills considered at today’s hearing was H.R. 1209, the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX). Testifying on the legislation, Dr. Ginger Breedlove, President of the American College of Nurse Midwives, commented, “H.R. 1209 would establish a maternity care shortage designation within existing designated health professional shortages areas. … Greater information on the shortages of maternity care providers that exist will enable Congress and the administration to better address needs of women of childbearing age and allow appropriate resources to be focused on those needs."
Also considered by the subcommittee was Rep. Renee Ellmers’ H.R. 4153, the Educating to Prevent Eating Disorders Act of 2015 which would establish a pilot program to test the impact of early intervention on the prevention, management, and course of eating disorders. Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, Chief Clinical Officer and Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services testified in support of the bill and how critical it is that folks are educated to learn the signs of eating disorders. Bermudez commented, “[E]ating disorders are curable mental illnesses, but the later the diagnosis and appropriate interventions, the harder the course of illness and worse the outcome. So early recognition and intervention are essential to improve treatment outcomes and avoid chronicity and early death."
The other bills that were considered today were:
H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act of 2015 - Authored by subcommittee Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), this bipartisan legislation would clarify medical liability rules for athletic trainers and medical professionals to ensure they are properly covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling with athletic teams in another state.
H.R. 2713, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act - Authored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), this bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the current Nursing Workforce Development programs to continue nursing education at all levels, and provide additional support for nurses practicing in medically underserved communities.
H.R. 3441, the Accurate Education for Prenatal Screenings Act - Authored by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), this bipartisan legislation would direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop, implement, and maintain programs to educate patients as well as health care providers on the purpose of cell-free DNA prenatal screenings, the reasons for such screenings, what conditions may be detected, as well as the risks, benefits, and alternatives to such screenings.
H.R. 4152, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act - Authored by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), this legislation would expand immunity from civil liability related to the use of automated external defibrillator devices (AEDs).
