I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2380
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum
depression and psychosis.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 28, 2001
Mr. RUSH (for himself, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr.
HYDE, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr.
PHELPS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. BOEH-
LERT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. EDDIE BER-
NICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. BISHOP, Mr.
WYNN, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs.
CLAYTON, Mr. EVANS, Mr. NADLER, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. BURR of North
Carolina, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr. KIRK, Ms. PRYCE
of Ohio, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. STUPAK, Mrs. MALONEY of New York,
Ms. WATSON of California, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. DUNN of Washington, Ms.
DELAURO, Ms. PELOSI, and Mrs. KELLY) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To provide for research on, and services for individuals with,
postpartum depression and psychosis.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Melanie Stokes
Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Postpartum depression is a devastating
mood disorder which strikes many women during
and after pregnancy.
(2) Postpartum mood changes are common and
can be broken into three subgroups: ‘‘baby blues,’’
which is an extremely common and the less severe
form of postpartum depression; postpartum mood
and anxiety disorders, which are more severe than
baby blues and can occur during pregnancy and any-
time within the first year of the infant’s birth; and
postpartum psychosis, which is the most extreme
form of postpartum depression and can occur during
pregnancy and up to twelve months after delivery.
(3) ‘‘Baby blues’’ is characterized by mood
swings, feelings of being overwhelmed, tearfulness,
irritability, poor sleep, mood changes, and a sense of
vulnerability.
(4) The symptoms of postpartum mood and
anxiety disorders are the worsening and the continu-
ation of the baby blues beyond the first days or
weeks after delivery.
(5) The symptoms of postpartum psychosis in-
clude losing touch with reality, distorted thinking,
delusions, auditory hallucinations, paranoia, hyper-
activity, and rapid speech or mania.
(6) Each year over 400,000 women suffer from
postpartum mood changes, with baby blues afflicting
up to 80 percent of new mothers; postpartum mood
and anxiety disorders impairing around 10–20 per-
cent of new mothers; and postpartum psychosis
striking 1 in 1,000 new mothers.
(7) The causes of postpartum depression are
complex and unknown at this time; however, theories
include a steep and rapid drop in hormone levels
after childbirth; difficulty during labor or pregnancy;
a premature birth; a miscarriage; feeling over-
whelmed, uncertain, frustrated or anxious about
one’s new role as a mother; a lack of support from
one’s spouse, friends or family; marital strife; stress-
ful events in life such as death of a loved one, finan-
cial problems, or physical or mental abuse; a family
history of depression or mood disorders; a previous
history of major depression or anxiety; or a prior
postpartum depression.
(8) Postpartum depression is a treatable dis-
order 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.
(9) All too often postpartum depression goes
undiagnosed or untreated due to the social stigma
surrounding depression and mental illness, the myth
of motherhood, the new mother’s inability to self-di-
agnose her condition, the new mother’s shame or
embarrassment over discussing her depression so
near to the birth of her child, the lack of under-
standing in society and the medical community of
the complexity of postpartum depression, and eco-
nomic pressures placed on hospitals and providers.
(10) Untreated, postpartum depression can lead
to further depression, substance abuse, loss of em-
ployment, divorce and further social alienation, self-
destructive behavior, or even suicide.
(11) Untreated, postpartum depression impacts
society through its affect on the infant’s physical
and psychological development, child abuse, neglect
or death of the infant or other siblings, and the dis-
ruption of the family.
postpartum conditions. Activities under such subsection
shall include conducting and supporting the following:
(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and
causes of the conditions.
(2) Epidemiological studies to address the fre-
quency and natural history of the conditions and the
differences among racial and ethnic groups with re-
spect to the conditions.
(3) The development of improved diagnostic
techniques.
(4) Clinical research for the development and
evaluation of new treatments, including new biologi-
cal agents.
(5) Information and education programs for
health care professionals and the public.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for
each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2004.
TITLE II—DELIVERY OF SERV-
ICES 
REGARDING
POSTPARTUM 
DEPRESSION
AND PSYCHOSIS
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services (in this title referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall in accordance with this title make grants
to provide for projects for the establishment, operation,
and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for
the delivery of essential services to individuals with
postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis (referred
to in this section as a ‘‘postpartum condition) and their
families.
(b) RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS.—A grant under sub-
section (a) may be made to an entity only if the entity
is a public or nonprofit private entity, which may include
a State or local government; a public or nonprofit private
hospital, community-based organization, hospice, ambula-
tory care facility, community health center, migrant health
center, or homeless health center; or other appropriate
public or nonprofit private entity.
(c) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—To the extent practicable
and appropriate, the Secretary shall ensure that projects
under subsection (a) provide services for the diagnosis and
management of postpartum conditions. Activities that the
Secretary may authorize for such projects may also in-
clude the following:
(1) 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.
(2) Delivering or enhancing inpatient care man-
agement services that ensure the well being of the
mother and family and the future development of
the infant.
(3) Improving the quality, availability, and or-
ganization of health care and support services (in-
cluding transportation services, attendant care,
homemaker services, day or respite care, and pro-
viding counseling on financial assistance and insur-
ance) for individuals with postpartum conditions and
support services for their families.
(d) INTEGRATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—To the
extent practicable and appropriate, the Secretary shall in-
tegrate the program under this title with other grant pro-
grams carried out by the Secretary, including the program
under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
SEC. 202. CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.
A grant may be made under section 201 only if the
applicant involved makes the following agreements:
(1) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will
be used for administration, accounting, reporting,
and program oversight functions.
(2) The grant will be used to supplement and
not supplant funds from other sources related to the
treatment of postpartum conditions.
(3) The applicant will abide by any limitations
deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges
to individuals receiving services pursuant to the
grant. As deemed appropriate by the Secretary, such
limitations on charges may vary based on the finan-
cial circumstances of the individual receiving serv-
ices.
(4) The grant will not be expended to make
payment for services authorized under section
201(a) to the extent that payment has been made,
or can reasonably be expected to be made, with re-
spect to such services—
(A) under any State compensation pro-
gram, under an insurance policy, or under any
Federal or State health benefits program; or
(B) by an entity that provides health serv-
ices on a prepaid basis.
(5) The applicant will, at each site at which the
applicant provides services under section 201(a),
post a conspicuous notice informing individuals who
receive the services of any Federal policies that
apply to the applicant with respect to the imposition
of charges on such individuals.
SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to as-
sist entities in complying with the requirements of this
title in order to make such entities eligible to receive
grants under section 201.
SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purpose of carrying out this title, there are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2004.
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