177
‘‘(A) In carrying out paragraph (2), the
Coordinating Committee shall comply with the
following:
‘‘(i) Identify and monitor all activities
regarding fetal alcohol conditions that are
conducted or supported by the Department
of Health and Human Services and other
Federal departments or agencies.
‘‘(ii) Identify the goals expected to be
achieved through the activities.
‘‘(iii) Conduct evaluations of the ex-
tent to which the activities have been effec-
tive in achieving such goals.
‘‘(iv) Determine the extent to which
the activities have been coordinated with
each other.
‘‘(v) Make recommendations on the
activities that should be carried out, on
priorities among the activities, and on the
coordination of the activities.
‘‘(B) Subject to paragraph (6)(B), the Co-
ordinating Committee shall, for each fiscal year,
prepare and submit to the Congress a report
detailing the activities of the Committee in car-
rying out the duties of the Committee for the
178
fiscal year. The Coordinating Committee shall
submit copies of each such report to the Sec-
retary, the Director of NIH, the officials speci-
fied in paragraph (3)(A), and the advisory
council for the Institute. Except as provided in
paragraph (6)(B), each such report shall be
submitted not later than February 1 of the fis-
cal year following the fiscal year for which the
report is prepared.
‘‘(6) INITIAL INTRADEPARTMENTAL STATUS OF
COMMITTEE.—
‘‘(A) During fiscal years 1997 and 1998,
the Secretary shall ensure that individuals ap-
pointed to the Coordinating Committee under
paragraph (3)(B) include only officers or em-
ployees of the Department of Health and
Human Services, and that the duties of the Co-
ordinating Committee are carried out only with
respect to such Department.
‘‘(B) The first report under subparagraph
(B) of paragraph (5) shall concern fiscal years
1997 and 1998, and shall consist of the find-
ings and recommendations made by the Coordi-
nating Committee in applying subparagraph (A)
of such paragraph to the Department of Health
179
and Human Services. Such report shall be sub-
mitted not later than February 1, 1999.
‘‘(7) PREVENTION
ACTIVITIES.—With respect
to activities for the prevention of fetal alcohol condi-
tions—
‘‘(A) the Coordinating Committee shall, as
soon as is practicable after the date on which
this section takes effect, develop recommenda-
tions under paragraph (5)(A) regarding the De-
partment of Health and Human Services; and
‘‘(B) such Committee shall, as soon as is
practicable after October 1, 1998, develop rec-
ommendations under such paragraph regarding
other departments and agencies of the Federal
Government.
‘‘(c) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Activities under subsection
(a) regarding fetal alcohol conditions shall include
conducting and supporting basic and applied re-
search, including epidemiological research; dem-
onstrations; the training of health professionals, in-
cluding the development of professional practice
standards for detecting and preventing such condi-
tions in pregnant women and for counseling such
women; the evaluation of programs, including train-
180
ing programs; and the dissemination of diagnostic
criteria. Activities under such subsection shall in-
clude the provision of technical assistance to public
and nonprofit private entities that carry out such
programs.
‘‘(2) PREVENTION; PUBLIC AWARENESS.—
‘‘(A) With respect to the prevention of
fetal alcohol conditions, each of the require-
ments of paragraph (1) regarding the conduct
and support of various types of activities shall
be carried out, except to the extent inapplicable
to prevention activities. Activities conducted or
supported pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall include carrying out a comprehensive pro-
gram to educate health professionals and the
general public, and shall include programs di-
rected toward at-risk populations. Programs
under this paragraph that are directed toward
particular populations shall be provided in the
language and cultural context most appropriate
for the population involved.
‘‘(B) In the conduct and support of activi-
ties under subparagraph (A), special emphasis
shall be placed upon the utilization of collabo-
181
rative efforts with both the public and private
sectors for the purpose of—
‘‘(i) increasing the awareness and
knowledge of health professionals and the
public regarding the prevention of fetal al-
cohol conditions; and
‘‘(ii) developing and disseminating to
health professionals, patients and patient
families, and the public information de-
signed to encourage individuals to adopt
healthful practices concerning the preven-
tion of such conditions.
‘‘(d) UNIFORM CRITERIA FOR COLLECTION AND RE-
PORTING OF DATA.—In order to provide for the com-
parability of data on fetal alcohol conditions, the Secretary
shall, to the extent practicable, develop uniform criteria
for the collection and reporting of such data by or through
the National Institutes of Health and the other agencies
of the Department of Health and Human Services. The
Secretary shall encourage the States to utilize such cri-
teria.
‘‘(e) COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary
may require that an activity under this section be carried
out in collaboration with or through one or more of the
other agencies of the Department of Health and Human
182
Services, and amounts made available under subsection (f)
are available to the Secretary for such purpose.
‘‘(f) 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 1997 through 2001.’’.
Subtitle R—Postreproductive
Health Care Act
SEC. 2691. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Postreproductive
Health Care Act’’.
SEC. 
2692. 
ESTABLISHMENT 
OF 
PROGRAM 
FOR
POSTREPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subpart:
‘‘Subpart IX—Postreproductive Health Care
‘‘POSTREPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
‘‘SEC. 340D. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall
make grants for the purpose of providing the services de-
scribed in subsection (b) to women who are of menopausal
age or older. Such grants may be made only to public or
nonprofit private entities that provide health services to
a significant number of low-income women.
183
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZED SERVICES.—The services referred
to in subsection (a) are as follows:
‘‘(1) The prevention and outpatient treatment
of health conditions—
‘‘(A) unique to, more serious, or more
prevalent for eligible women; or
‘‘(B) for which, in the case of such women,
the factors of medical risk or types of medical
intervention are different.
‘‘(2) Counseling on the conditions described in
paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) The education and training of health pro-
fessionals (including allied health professionals) on
the prevention and treatment of such conditions and
on the provision of such counseling.
‘‘(c) PRIORITY IN PROVISION OF SERVICES.—The
Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if
the applicant involved agrees that, in expending the grant
to provide authorized services to eligible women, the appli-
cant will give priority to providing the services for meno-
pausal health conditions.
‘‘(d) OUTREACH.—The Secretary may make a grant
under subsection (a) only if the applicant involved
agrees—
184
‘‘(1) to conduct outreach services to inform
women in the community involved of the fact that
authorized services are available from the applicant;
and
‘‘(2) to give priority to providing the outreach
services to low-income women.
‘‘(e) LIMITATION
ON IMPOSITION
OF FEES
FOR
SERVICES.—The Secretary may make a grant under sub-
section (a) only if the applicant involved agrees that, if
a charge is imposed for the provision of services or activi-
ties under the grant, such charge—
‘‘(1) will be made according to a schedule of
charges that is made available to the public;
‘‘(2) will be adjusted to reflect the income of
the woman involved; and
‘‘(3) will not be imposed on any woman with an
income equal to or less than 100 percent of the offi-
cial poverty line, as established by the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget and revised
by the Secretary in accordance with section 673(2)
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981.
‘‘(f) REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—The Secretary may
make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant
involved agrees to submit to the Secretary, for each fiscal
year for which such a grant is made to the applicant, a
185
report describing the purposes for which the grant has
been expended.
‘‘(g) REQUIREMENT
OF APPLICATION.—The Sec-
retary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the
applicant involved makes an agreement that the grant will
not be expended for any purpose other than the purpose
described in such subsection and for compliance with any
other agreements required in this section. Such a grant
may be made only if an application for the grant is sub-
mitted to the Secretary containing such agreements, and
the application is in such form, is made in such manner,
and contains such other agreements, and such assurances
and information, as the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to carry out this section.
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘authorized services’ means the
services described in subsection (b).
‘‘(2) The term ‘eligible women’ means women
described in subsection (a).
‘‘(3) The term ‘health conditions’ includes dis-
eases and disorders.
‘‘(4) The term ‘health’ includes mental health.
‘‘(5) The term ‘menopausal age’, with respect
to a woman, includes the age at which the woman
is nearing menopause and includes any age at which
186
the woman experiences menopausal health condi-
tions.
‘‘(6) The term ‘menopausal health conditions’
means conditions arising from the diminished or
complete cessation of the functioning of the ovaries,
whether occurring naturally or otherwise.
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
1998 and 1999.’’.
Subtitle S—Family Caregiver
Support and Protection Act of 1996
SEC. 2701. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Family Caregiver
Support and Protection Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2702. COVERAGE OF RESPITE CARE SERVICES UNDER
MEDICARE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (N);
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (O); and
187
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(P) respite care services (as defined in sub-
section (oo)); and’’.
(b) SERVICES DESCRIBED.—Section 1861 of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
‘‘Respite Care Services
‘‘(oo)(1)(A) Subject to subparagraph (C), the term
‘respite care services’ means any of the services described
in subparagraph (B) which are furnished to an eligible in-
dividual (as described in paragraph (2)) for the support
of a caregiver described in paragraph (2) at the individ-
ual’s home or in the community on a short-term, intermit-
tent, or emergency basis by an individual or entity who
meets such standards as the Secretary may establish.
‘‘(B) The services described in this subparagraph are
as follows:
‘‘(i) Companion services.
‘‘(ii) Homemaker services.
‘‘(iii) Personal assistance.
‘‘(iv) Community day services.
‘‘(v) Temporary care in an accredited or li-
censed residential facility.
188
‘‘(C) In establishing standards pursuant to subpara-
graph (A) for individuals and entities providing respite
care services, the Secretary shall consult with organiza-
tions representing providers of the services described in
such paragraph and organizations representing individuals
who typically receive such services.
‘‘(D) The term ‘respite care services’ does not include
any services furnished to an individual during a 12-month
period after the individual has been furnished 120 hours
of such services during such period.
‘‘(2) An ‘eligible individual’ described in this para-
graph is an individual with functional limitations (as de-
scribed in paragraph (3)) who is dependent on a daily
basis on a caregiver who—
‘‘(A) has primary responsibility for providing
care to the individual;
‘‘(B) does not receive financial remuneration for
providing such care; and
‘‘(C) has provided such care for a period of not
less than 3 consecutive months.
‘‘(3)(A) In paragraph (2), an ‘individual with func-
tional limitations’ is an individual who is certified (in ac-
cordance with such criteria as the Secretary may establish
consistent with subparagraph (C)) as—
190
tional limitations, the Secretary may not require that such
certification be performed only by a physician.’’.
(c) PAYMENT ON HOURLY BASIS.—Section 1833 of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l) is amended by inserting after
subsection (o) the following new subsection:
‘‘(p) Payment for respite care services shall be paid
on the basis of an hour of such services provided.’’.
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1862(a) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph
(14);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (15) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (15) the fol-
lowing new paragraph:
‘‘(16) in the case of respite care services, which
are furnished to an individual during a 12-month pe-
riod after the individual has been furnished 120
hours of such services during such period.’’.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after
January 1, 1997.
191
SEC. 2703. TREATMENT OF LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AS
MEDICAL CARE.
(a) GENERAL RULE.—Paragraph (1) of section
213(d) (defining medical care) is amended by striking
‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph (B), by striking the pe-
riod at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting ‘‘, or’’,
and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(D) for qualified long-term care services
(as defined in subsection (f)).’’
(b) DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED LONG-TERM CARE
SERVICES.—Section 213 of such Code is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(f) QUALIFIED LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES.—For
purposes of this section—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘qualified long-
term care services’ means necessary diagnostic, pre-
ventive, therapeutic, curing, treating, mitigating, and
rehabilitative services, and maintenance or personal
care services, which—
‘‘(A) are required by a chronically ill indi-
vidual, and
‘‘(B) are provided pursuant to a plan of
care prescribed by a licensed health care practi-
tioner.
‘‘(2) CHRONICALLY ILL INDIVIDUAL.—
192
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘chronically
ill individual’ means any individual who has
been certified by a licensed health care practi-
tioner as—
‘‘(i) being unable to perform (without
substantial assistance from another indi-
vidual) at least 2 activities of daily living
for a period of at least 90 days due to a
loss of functional capacity or to cognitive
impairment,
‘‘(ii) requiring substantial supervision
to protect such individual from threats to
health or safety due to substantial cog-
nitive impairment, or
‘‘(iii) having a level of disability simi-
lar (as determined by the Secretary in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services) to the level of disability
described in clause (i) or (ii).
Such term shall not include any individual oth-
erwise meeting the requirements of the preced-
ing sentence unless within the preceding 12-
month period a licensed health care practitioner
has certified that such individual meets such re-
quirements.
193
‘‘(B) ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING.—For
purposes of subparagraph (A), each of the fol-
lowing is an activity of daily living:
‘‘(i) Eating.
‘‘(ii) Toileting.
‘‘(iii) Transferring.
‘‘(iv) Bathing.
‘‘(v) Dressing.
‘‘(vi) Continence.
‘‘(C) 
SUBSTANTIAL
ASSISTANCE.—For
purposes of subparagraph (A)(i), the term ‘sub-
stantial assistance’ includes verbal reminding or
physical cuing.
‘‘(3) MAINTENANCE OR PERSONAL CARE SERV-
ICES.—The term ‘maintenance or personal care serv-
ices’ means any care the primary purpose of which
is the provision of needed assistance with any of the
disabilities as a result of which the individual is a
chronically ill individual (including the protection
from threats to health and safety due to severe cog-
nitive impairment).
‘‘(4) 
LICENSED
HEALTH
CARE
PRACTI-
TIONER.—The term ‘licensed health care practi-
tioner’ means any physician (as defined in section
1861(r)(1) of the Social Security Act) and any reg-
194
istered professional nurse, licensed social worker, or
other individual who meets such requirements as
may be prescribed by the Secretary.’’
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1995.
Subtitle 
T—Medicare 
Mammog-
raphy Enhancement Act of 1996
SEC. 2751. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Mam-
mography Enhancement Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2752. EXPANDING SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY UNDER
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.
(a) PROVIDING ANNUAL SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY
FOR WOMEN OVER AGE 49.—Section 1834(c)(2)(A) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(c)(2)(A)) is
amended—
(1) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘but under 65
years of age,’’, and
(2) by striking clause (v).
(b) WAIVER OF DEDUCTIBLE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The first sentence of section
1833(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amend-
ed—
195
(A) by striking ‘‘and (4)’’ and inserting
‘‘(4)’’, and
(B) by striking the period at the end and
inserting the following: ‘‘, and (5) such deduct-
ible shall not apply with respect to screening
mammography 
(as 
described 
in 
section
1861(jj)).’’.
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
1834(c)(1)(C) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
1395m(c)(1)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘, subject
to 
the 
deductible 
established 
under 
section
1833(b),’’.
(c) WAIVER OF COINSURANCE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1834(c)(1)(C) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(c)(1)(C)) is amended by
striking ‘‘80 percent of’’.
(2) WAIVER OF COINSURANCE IN OUTPATIENT
HOSPITAL SETTINGS.—The third sentence of section
1866(a)(2)(A) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
1395cc(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after
‘‘1861(s)(10)(A)’’ the following: ‘‘, with respect to
screening mammography (as defined in section
1861(jj)),’’.
196
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to screening mammography per-
formed on or after January 1, 1997.
Subtitle U—Medicare Bone Mass
Measurement 
Standardization
Act of 1996
SEC. 2791. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Bone
Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2792. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF BONE MASS MEASURE-
MENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) COVERAGE.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)), as
amended by section 147(f)(6)(B)(iii) of the Social
Security Act Amendments of 1994, is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (N), by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (O), by striking
‘‘and’’ at the end; and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (O)
the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(P) bone mass measurement (as defined in
subsection (oo)); and’’.
197
(2) BONE MASS MEASUREMENTS DESCRIBED.—
Section 1861 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x), as
amended by section 146(a) of the Social Security
Act Amendments of 1994, is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
‘‘Bone Mass Measurement
‘‘(oo)(1) The term ‘bone mass measurement’ means
a radiologic or radioisotopic procedure or other scientif-
ically proven technology performed on a qualified individ-
ual (as defined in paragraph (2)) for the purpose of identi-
fying bone mass or detecting bone loss, and includes a
physician’s interpretation of the results of the procedure.
‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘quali-
fied individual’ means (in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary)—
‘‘(A) an estrogen-deficient woman at clinical
risk for osteoporosis;
‘‘(B) an individual with vertebral abnormalities;
‘‘(C) 
an 
individual 
receiving 
long-term
glucocorticoid steroid therapy;
‘‘(D) 
an 
individual 
with 
primary
hyperparathyroidism; or
‘‘(E) an individual who is monitored to assess
the individual’s response to or the efficacy of ap-
proved osteoporosis drug therapies.’’.
198
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall apply to bone mass measurements per-
formed on or after January 1, 1997.
Subtitle V—Osteoporosis and Re-
lated Bone Disorders Resource
Center Act of 1996
SEC. 2801. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Osteoporosis and
Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2802. FUNDING FOR INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE
ON OSTEOPOROSIS, PAGET’S DISEASE, AND
RELATED BONE DISORDERS.
Section 409A(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 284e(d)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing sentence: ‘‘In addition to other authorizations of
appropriations available for the purpose of the establish-
ment and operation of the information clearinghouse
under subsection (c), there are authorized to be appro-
priated for such purpose $500,000 for fiscal year 1997,
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal
years 1998 and 1999.’’.
199
Subtitle W—Women Veterans
Health Improvement Act of 1996
SEC. 2851. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Women Veterans
Health Improvement Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2852. WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES.
(a) WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES.—Section 1701 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6)(A)(i), by inserting ‘‘wom-
en’s health services,’’ after ‘‘preventive health serv-
ices,’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(10) The term ‘women’s health services’ means
health care services provided to women, including counsel-
ing and services relating to the following:
‘‘(A) Papanicolaou tests (pap smear).
‘‘(B) Breast examinations and mammography.
‘‘(C) The management and prevention of sexu-
ally transmitted diseases.
‘‘(D) Menopause, osteoporosis, and other condi-
tions relating to aging.
‘‘(E) Cardiac care.
‘‘(F) Physical and psychological conditions aris-
ing out of acts of sexual violence.
200
‘‘(G) Physical and psychological conditions that
result from homelessness.’’.
(b) CONTRACTS FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES.—
Section 1703(a) of such title is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(9) Women’s health services for veterans on
an ambulatory or outpatient basis.’’.
(c) REPEAL OF SUPERSEDED AUTHORITY.—Section
106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law
102–585; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended—
(1) by striking out subsection (a); and
(2) by striking out ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES OF
DIRECTORS
OF FACILITIES.—’’ before ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’.
SEC. 2853. REPORT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE AND RE-
SEARCH.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 1999,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report on the provision of health care
services and the conduct of research carried out by, or
under the jurisdiction of, the Secretary relating to women
veterans. The report shall be prepared through the Center
for Women Veterans established under section 318 of title
38, United States Code, which shall prepare the report
201
in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Women
Veterans established under section 542 of that title.
(b) CONTENTS.—The report under subsection (a)
shall include the following information:
(1) The number of women veterans who have
received women’s health services (as such term is de-
fined in section 1701(10) of title 38, United States
Code) in facilities under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary (or the Secretary of Defense), shown by ref-
erence to the Department facility which provided
(or, in the case of Department of Defense facilities,
arranged for) those services.
(2) A description of—
(A) the services provided at each such fa-
cility;
(B) the type and amount of services pro-
vided by such personnel, including information
on the numbers of inpatient stays and the num-
ber of outpatient visits through which such
services were provided; and
(C) the extent to which each such facility
relies on contractual arrangements under sec-
tion 1703 or 8153 of title 38, United States
Code, to furnish care to women veterans in fa-
cilities which are not under the jurisdiction of
203
of the status of any research relating to women vet-
erans being carried out by or under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary.
(8) A description of the actions taken by the
Secretary to foster and encourage the expansion of
such research.
SEC. 2854. EXPANSION OF RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN
VETERANS.
(a) INCLUSION
OF WOMEN
AND MINORITIES
IN
HEALTH RESEARCH.—Section 7303(c) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking out ‘‘that,
whenever possible and appropriate—’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘that—’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(3) The requirement in paragraph (1) regarding
women and members of minority groups who are veterans
may be waived by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with
respect to a project of clinical research if the Secretary
determines that the inclusion, as subjects in the project,
of women and members of minority groups, respectively—
‘‘(A) is inappropriate with respect to the health
of the subjects;
204
‘‘(B) is inappropriate with respect to the pur-
pose of the research; or
‘‘(C) is inappropriate under such other cir-
cumstances as the Secretary may designate.’’.
(b) HEALTH RESEARCH RELATING TO WOMEN.—
Section 7303(d) of such title is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall foster and encourage re-
search under this section on the following matters as they
relate to women:
‘‘(A) Breast cancer.
‘‘(B) Gynecological and reproductive health, in-
cluding gynecological cancer, infertility, sexually-
transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.
‘‘(C) Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Ac-
quired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
‘‘(D) Mental health, including post-traumatic
stress disorder, depression, combat related stress,
and trauma.
‘‘(E) Diseases related to aging, including meno-
pause, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
‘‘(F) Substance abuse.
‘‘(G) Sexual violence and related trauma.
‘‘(H) Exposure to toxic chemicals and other en-
vironmental hazards.
205
‘‘(I) Cardiac care.
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, ensure that personnel of the Department of
Veterans Affairs engaged in the research referred to in
paragraph (1) include the following:
‘‘(A) Personnel of the geriatric research, edu-
cation, and clinical centers designated pursuant to
section 7314 of this title.
‘‘(B) Personnel of the National Center for Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder established pursuant to
section 110(c) of the Veterans Health Care Act of
1984 (Public Law 98–528; 98 Stat. 2692).
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall ensure that personnel of the
Department engaged in research relating to the health of
women veterans are advised and informed of such research
engaged in by other personnel of the Department.’’.
SEC. 2855. POPULATION STUDY.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, sub-
ject to subsection (f), shall conduct a study to determine
the needs of veterans who are women for health-care serv-
ices. The study shall be carried out through the Center
for Women Veterans.
(b) CONSULTATION.—Before carrying out the study,
the Secretary shall request the advice of the Advisory
206
Committee on Women Veterans on the conduct of the
study.
(c) PERSONS TO BE INCLUDED IN SAMPLE OF VET-
ERANS STUDIED.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the study
shall be based on—
(A) an appropriate sample of veterans who are
women; and
(B) an examination of the medical and demo-
graphic histories of the women comprising such sam-
ple.
(2) The sample referred to in paragraph (1) shall
constitute a representative sampling (as determined by the
Secretary) of the ages, the ethnic, social and economic
backgrounds, the enlisted and officer grades, and the
branches of service of all veterans who are women. The
Secretary shall ensure that homeless Women Veterans are
included in the sample.
(3) In carrying out the examination referred to in
paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall determine the num-
ber of women of the sample who have used medical facili-
ties of the Department, nursing home facilities of or under
the jurisdiction of the Department, and outpatient care
facilities of or under the jurisdiction of the Department.