EQUIP Act of 2017

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a demonstration program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention screening initiatives by health care providers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2017 EQUIP Act of 2017 2. Pregnancy intention screening initiative demonstration program Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g 399V–7. Pregnancy intention screening initiative demonstration program (a) Program establishment The Secretary, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish a demonstration program to facilitate the clinical adoption of pregnancy intention screening initiatives by health care providers. (b) Grants The Secretary may carry out the demonstration program through awarding grants to eligible entities to implement pregnancy intention screening initiatives, collect data, and evaluate such initiatives. (c) Eligible Entities (1) In general An eligible entity under this section is an entity described in paragraph (2) that provides non-directive, comprehensive, medically accurate information. (2) Entities described For purposes of paragraph (1), an entity described in this paragraph is a community-based organization, voluntary health organization, public health department, community health center, or other interested public or private health care provider or organization. (d) Pregnancy intention screening initiative For purposes of this section, the term pregnancy intention screening initiative (e) Evaluation (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, by grant or contract, and after consultation as described in paragraph (2), conduct an evaluation of the demonstration program, with respect to pregnancy intention screening initiatives, conducted under this section. The evaluation shall include: (A) Assessment of the implementation of pregnancy intention screening protocols among a diverse group of patients and providers, including collecting data on the experiences and outcomes for diverse patient populations in a variety of clinical settings. (B) Analysis of outcome measures that will facilitate effective and widespread adoption of such protocols by health care providers for inquiring about and responding to pregnancy intentions of women with both contraceptive and pre-pregnancy care. (C) Consideration of health disparities among the population served. (D) Assessment of the equitable and voluntary application of such initiatives to minority and medically underserved communities. (E) Assessment of the training, capacity, and ongoing technical assistance needed for providers to effectively implement such pregnancy intention screening protocols. (F) Assessment of whether referral systems for selected protocols follow evidence-based standards that ensure access to comprehensive health services and appropriate follow-up care. (2) Independent, expert advisory panel In conducting the evaluation under paragraph (1), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall consult with physicians, physician assistants, and nurses who specialize in women’s health, and other experts in clinical practice, program evaluation, and research. (3) Report Not later than one year after the last day of the demonstration program under this section, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) and shall make the report publicly available. (f) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020. (2) Limitation Not more than 25 percent of funds appropriated to carry out this section pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used for purposes of the evaluation under subsection (e). .

Summary: Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2017 or the EQUIP Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide eligible health organizations with demonstration program grants to implement routine screenings about women's pregnancy intentions in order to provide better contraceptive and prepregnancy care.