SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023

To improve research and data collection on stillbirths, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2023 SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023 2. Stillbirth research and data collection improvements Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 317L–1 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–13a 317L–2. Stillbirth research and data collection improvements (a) Stillbirth surveillance and risk factor studies (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to States for purposes of— (A) conducting surveillance and collecting data, including from existing datasets like State or sub-State maternal mortality data and Fetal and Infant Mortality Review data, with respect to stillbirths for public health and research purposes; (B) building State and local public health capacity to assess stillbirth data; and (C) collecting and reporting data on stillbirth risk factors, including any quantifiable outcomes with respect to such risk factors. (2) Condition As a condition of receipt of funds under this section, all data collected shall be in a manner that protects personal privacy and in a manner that is consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy law, at a minimum. (3) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (b) Guidelines and educational awareness materials (1) In general The Secretary shall— (A) issue guidelines to State departments of health and State and local vital statistics units on— (i) collecting data on stillbirth from health care providers, and with the consent of the woman who experienced the stillbirth, including any such data with respect to the clinical history, postmortem examination, and placental pathology; and (ii) improving processes and training related to stillbirth data collection and reporting to ensure standardization and completeness of data; and (B) develop, and make publicly available, educational awareness materials on stillbirths. (2) Consultation In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may consult with— (A) national health care professional associations; (B) national associations representing State and local public health officials; (C) organizations that assist families with burial support and bereavement services; (D) nurses and nurse practitioners; (E) obstetricians and gynecologists; (F) pediatricians; (G) maternal-fetal medicine specialists; (H) nurse midwives and midwives; (I) mental health professionals; (J) statisticians; (K) individuals who have experienced a stillbirth; and (L) advocacy organizations representing such individuals. (3) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. (c) Vital statistics unit defined In this section, the term vital statistics unit . 3. Perinatal pathology fellowships The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 1122 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300c–12 1123. Improving perinatal pathology (a) In general The Secretary shall incorporate into an existing training program a Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program, a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship on Factors Associated with Stillbirth Program, or both. (b) Activities Each program incorporated under subsection (a) shall— (1) provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology; (2) provide practice-based learning opportunities to foster exchange and connection with State efforts concerning fetal death review that are supported under title V of the Social Security Act; (3) conduct research on, and improve data collection with respect to, stillbirths, including through fetal autopsies; and (4) address challenges in stillbirth education, research, and data collection. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. . 4. Reports (a) Educational guidelines report (1) In general Not later than five years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish on a public website of the Department of Health and Human Services a report with educational guidelines on stillbirth and stillbirth risk factors. (2) Contents Such report shall include, to the extent practicable and appropriate, the guidelines issued and educational awareness materials developed under section 317L–2 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2 of this Act. (b) Progress report Not later than five years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Congress a comprehensive report on the progress and effectiveness of each program under section 1123 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 3 of this Act.

Summary: Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2023 or the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2023 This bill authorizes grants and establishes other programs to improve data collection on stillbirths. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants for surveillance and data collection on stillbirths, and HHS must issue guidelines for health departments and vital statistics units concerning the collection of stillbirth data. HHS must also develop educational awareness materials about stillbirths and make them publicly available. Furthermore, HHS must implement a fellowship program to provide training in perinatal autopsy pathology and otherwise support research on stillbirths and fetal autopsies. The bill also requires HHS to issue a report with educational guidelines on stillbirths and stillbirth risk factors.