PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023

To reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023 2. Research relating to preterm labor and delivery and the care, treatment, and outcomes of preterm and low birthweight infants (a) In general Section 3(e) of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–4f(e)) is amended by striking fiscal years 2019 through 2023 fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (b) Technical correction Effective as if included in the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–328 Section 2 Section 3 3. Public and health care provider education and support services Section 399Q of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g–5 (1) in subsection (b)(1)(D)— (A) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses (vii) and (viii), respectively; and (B) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) screening for and treatment of chronic conditions; ; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking fiscal years 2014 through 2018 fiscal years 2024 through 2028 4. Interagency working group Section 5(a) of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–328 The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, may establish Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023 5. Study on preterm births (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under which the National Academies shall— (1) not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, convene a committee of experts in maternal health to study premature births in the United States; and (2) upon completion of the study under paragraph (1)— (A) approve by consensus a report on the results of such study; (B) include in such report— (i) an assessment of each of the topics listed in subsection (b); (ii) the analysis required by subsection (c); and (iii) the raw data used to develop such report; and (C) not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit such report to— (i) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (ii) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (iii) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. (b) Assessment topics The topics listed in this subsection are of each of the following: (1) The financial costs of premature birth to society, including— (A) an analysis of stays in neonatal intensive care units and the cost of such stays; (B) long-term costs of stays in such units to society and the family involved post-discharge; and (C) health care costs for families post-discharge from such units (such as medications, therapeutic services, co-pays visits and specialty equipment). (2) The factors that impact pre-term birth rates. (3) Gaps in public health programs that have caused increases in premature birth, including— (A) gaps in the detection of premature birth risk factors; (B) gaps in information from States on pre-term birth; and (C) gaps in support and resources for parents provided in-hospital, in non-hospital settings, and post-discharge. (c) Analysis The analysis required by this subsection is an analysis of— (1) targeted research strategies to develop effective drugs, treatments, or interventions to bring at-risk pregnancies to term; (2) State and other programs’ best practices with respect to reducing premature birth rates; (3) opportunities to address developmental origins of health with respect to premature birth rates; and (4) precision medicine and preventative care approaches starting early in the life course (including during pregnancy) with a focus on behavioral and biological influences on premature birth, child health, and the trajectory of such approaches into adulthood.

Summary: PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and otherwise modifies research and education programs for preventing premature births. For example, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an interagency working group to improve the coordination of programs and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related adverse effects. (Current law permits HHS to establish such a working group.) The bill also requires HHS to support a study carried out by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on matters related to premature births, such as the financial costs and factors that affect preterm birth rates.