Authorizing Legislation: PREEMIE Reauthorization of 2018

PUBLIC LAW 115–328—DEC. 18, 2018

132 STAT. 4471

Public Law 115–328
115th Congress
An Act
To revise and extend the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers
who deliver Infants Early Act (PREEMIE Act).

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prematurity Research Expansion
and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Reauthorization Act of 2018’’ or the ‘‘PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018’’.

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SEC. 2. RESEARCH RELATING TO PRETERM LABOR AND DELIVERY
AND THE CARE, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOMES OF PRETERM
AND LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS.

Section 2 of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education
for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–4f)
is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘clinical, biological,
social, environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors
relating’’ and inserting ‘‘factors relating to prematurity,
such as clinical, biological, social, environmental, genetic,
and behavioral factors, and other determinants that contribute to health disparities and are related’’; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘ concerning the
progress and any results of studies conducted under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘regarding activities and studies
conducted under paragraph (1), including any applicable
analyses of preterm birth. Such report shall be posted
on the Internet website of the Department of Health and
Human Services.’’;
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
‘‘(c) PREGNANCY RISK ASSESSMENT MONITORING SURVEY.—The
Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall—
‘‘(1) continue systems for the collection of maternal-infant
clinical and biomedical information, including electronic health
records, electronic databases, and biobanks, to link with the
Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and
other epidemiological studies of prematurity in order to track,
to the extent practicable, all pregnancy outcomes and prevent
preterm birth; and
‘‘(2) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to support
States in improving the collection of information pursuant to
this subsection.’’; and

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Dec. 18, 2018
[S. 3029]
Prematurity
Research
Expansion and
Education for
Mothers who
deliver Infants
Early
Reauthorization
Act of 2018.
42 USC 201 note.

Reports.
Web posting.

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132 STAT. 4472

PUBLIC LAW 115–328—DEC. 18, 2018
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘except for subsection
(c), $1,880,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018’’
and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2023’’.

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SEC. 3. PUBLIC AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

Section 399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g–
5) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘conduct demonstration projects’’ and
inserting ‘‘conduct activities, which may include demonstration projects’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘for babies born preterm’’ and inserting
‘‘mothers of infants born preterm, and infants born preterm,
as appropriate’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
‘‘under the demonstration project’’;
(B) in paragraph (1)—
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ‘‘programs to test and evaluate various strategies to provide’’ and inserting ‘‘programs, including
those to test and evaluate strategies, which, in
collaboration with States, localities, tribes, and community organizations, support the provision of’’;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through
(F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively;
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A), the following:
‘‘(B) evidence-based strategies to prevent preterm birth
and associated outcomes;’’;
(iv) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by
inserting ‘‘, and the risks of non-medically indicated
deliveries before full term’’ before the semicolon;
(v) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated—
(I) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘intake’’ before
the semicolon;
(II) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(III) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vii);
and
(IV) by inserting after clause (iii), the following:
‘‘(iv) screening for and treatment of substance use
disorders;
‘‘(v) screening for and treatment of maternal
depression;
‘‘(vi) maternal immunization; and’’;
(vi) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by
adding ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(vii) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by
striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a period; and
(viii) by striking subparagraph (G), as so redesignated; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, as well as prevention of a future preterm birth’’ before the semicolon.

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PUBLIC LAW 115–328—DEC. 18, 2018

132 STAT. 4473

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH.

Section 104(b) of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (42 U.S.C.
247b–4f note) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ‘‘and recommendations to the Secretary concerning
the following activities’’ and inserting ‘‘, recommendations,
or information to the Secretary as may be necessary to
improve activities and programs to reduce severe maternal
morbidity, maternal mortality, infant mortality, and
preterm birth, which may include recommendations, advice,
or information related to the following’’;
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and improving
the health status of pregnant women and infants’’ and
inserting ‘‘, preterm birth, and improving the health status
of pregnant women and infants, and information on costeffectiveness and outcomes of such programs’’;
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Implementation
of the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and
(D) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(D) Implementation of Healthy People objectives
related to maternal and infant health.
‘‘(E) Strategies to reduce racial, ethnic, geographic, and
other health disparities in birth outcomes, including by
increasing awareness of Federal programs related to appropriate access to, or information regarding, prenatal care
to address risk factors for preterm labor and delivery.
‘‘(F) Strategies, including the implementation of such
strategies, to address gaps in Federal research, programs,
and education efforts related to the prevention of severe
maternal morbidity, maternal mortality, infant mortality,
and other adverse birth outcomes.’’;
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraph
(4) as paragraph (3); and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of
2018, and every 2 years thereafter, the Advisory Committee
shall—
‘‘(A) publish a report summarizing activities and recommendations of the Advisory Committee since the publication of the previous report;
‘‘(B) submit such report to the Secretary and the appropriate Committees of Congress; and
‘‘(C) post such report on the Internet website of the
Department of Health and Human Services.’’.

Web posting.

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SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
in collaboration with other departments, as appropriate, may establish an interagency working group in order to improve coordination
of programs and activities to prevent preterm birth, infant mortality, and related adverse birth outcomes.
(b) DUTIES.—The working group established under subsection
(a) shall—

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Assessments.

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132 STAT. 4474

Recommendations.

PUBLIC LAW 115–328—DEC. 18, 2018

(1) identify gaps, unnecessary duplication, and opportunities for improved coordination in Federal programs and activities related to preterm birth and infant mortality;
(2) assess the extent to which the goals and metrics of
relevant programs and activities within the Department of
Health and Human Services, and, as applicable, those in other
departments, are aligned; and
(3) assess the extent to which such programs are coordinated across agencies within such Department; and
(4) make specific recommendations, as applicable, to reduce
or minimize gaps and unnecessary duplication, and improve
coordination of goals, programs, and activities across agencies
within such Department.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date on which
the working group is established under subsection (a), the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the findings of the working group under
subsection (b) and the specific recommendations to improve Federal
programs at the Department of Health and Human Services under
subsection (b)(4).

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Approved December 18, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3029:
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Sept. 12, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.

Æ

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