Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2020
This bill directs specified components of the Department of Health and Human Services to take certain actions to address uterine fibroids (i.e., muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus and may cause pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and reproductive issues).
Specifically, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), working through the Office of Research on Women's Health, must undertake research activities on uterine fibroids. In carrying out this research, the office must coordinate with specified components of the NIH and other federal agencies.
In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must (1) collect data from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program about treatment and services related to uterine fibroids, and (2) develop a report in coordination with federal partners on federal and state expenditures for these treatments and services.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must disseminate information about uterine fibroids, including the elevated risk for minority women and information regarding available treatments. Specifically, the CDC shall disseminate the information to the public, while HRSA and AHRQ shall disseminate it to health care providers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4397 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4397
To provide for research and education with respect to uterine fibroids,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 3, 2020
Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Booker) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for research and education with respect to uterine fibroids,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Uterine Fibroid Research and
Education Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds as follows:
(1) It is estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of women
of reproductive age have clinically recognized uterine
fibroids, and screening studies indicate the prevalence of
uterine fibroids in women may be much higher.
(2) In the United States, an estimated 26,000,000 women
between the ages of 15 and 50 have uterine fibroids. Uterine
fibroids may cause significant morbidity through their presence
in the uterus and pelvic cavity, causing significant pelvic
pain, iron-deficiency anemia, miscarriages, infertility, and
heavy bleeding--one of the most common and bothersome symptoms.
(3) The pain, discomfort, stress, and other physical and
emotional symptoms of living with fibroids may significantly
interfere with a woman's quality of life, compromising her
ability to function normally or work or care for her family,
and may lead to more severe health and wellness issues.
(4) The development of uterine fibroids is a common and
significant health problem, affecting women, primarily of
reproductive age, across all ages, racial backgrounds, and
socioeconomic levels.
(5) Most women will experience uterine fibroids by the age
of 50, yet few data exist describing the overall patient
experience with fibroids. Women with fibroids or symptoms
suggestive of fibroids experience significant distress that
reduces quality of life and many women are likely undiagnosed,
underscoring the need for improved awareness and education.
(6) Minority women are more likely to develop uterine
fibroids. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of African-
American women and about 70 percent of Caucasian women develop
fibroids by the time they reach menopause. African-American
women have also been shown to have more severe symptoms and
develop early-onset uterine fibroids that develop into larger
tumors.
(7) The exact number of affected women is unknown, because
only one out of 4 women who have a uterine fibroid tumor
exhibit symptoms severe enough to require treatment.
(8) Current research and available data do not provide
adequate information on the rates of prevalence and incidence
of fibroids in Asian, Hispanic, and African-American minority
women. There is no quantitative data available in regard to the
costs associated with treating fibroids, and the methods by
which fibroids may be prevented in these women available.
(9) Symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause heavy menstrual
bleeding, pain, and reproductive problems, including
infertility. Women with uterine fibroids are much more likely
to miscarry during early pregnancy than women without them.
(10) According to the Evidence Report Summary on the
Management of Uterine Fibroids, as compiled by the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality of the Department of Health and
Human Services, there is a ``remarkable lack of high-quality
evidence supporting the effectiveness of most interventions for
symptomatic fibroids''.
(11) The presence of symptomatic uterine fibroids is the
most common reason for hysterectomies, accounting for
approximately one-third of hysterectomies, or 200,000
procedures annually. Twenty-two percent of African-American
women and 7 percent of Caucasian women have hysterectomies as a
result of uterine fibroids. Lack of patient and provider
awareness of less invasive alternatives to hysterectomies lead
to an estimated 80,000 to 120,000 unnecessary hysterectomies
annually. Uterine fibroids are also the leading cause of
hospitalization related to a gynecological disorder.
(12) The personal and societal costs of uterine fibroids in
the United States are significant. Uterine fibroid tumors have
been estimated to cost the United States $5,900,000,000 to
$34,400,000,000 annually. The annual direct costs, including
surgery, hospital admissions, outpatient visits, and
medications, were estimated at $4,100,000,000 to $9,400,000,000
annually. Estimated lost work-hour costs ranged from
$1,550,000,000 to $17,200,000,000 annually. Obstetric outcomes
that were attributed to fibroid tumors resulted in costs of
$238,000,000 to $7,760,000,000 annually.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS.
(a) Research.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health
(in this section referred to as the ``Director of NIH'') shall expand,
intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of
research with respect to uterine fibroids.
(b) Administration and Coordination.--The Director of NIH, acting
through Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health, shall
carry out research conducted pursuant to subsection (a), in
coordination with the appropriate institutes, offices, and centers of
the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences, the Office of Women's Health, the Office
of Minority Health, and the National Center on Minority Health and
Health Disparities, and any other relevant Federal agency, as
determined by the Director.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO MEDICAID COVERAGE OF UTERINE FIBROIDS
TREATMENT.
(a) Research.--The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (referred to in this section as the
``Administrator'') shall expand the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse
research database of such Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to
collect data on items and services furnished to women diagnosed with
uterine fibroids and fibroids-related symptoms under a State plan (or a
waiver of such a plan) under the Medicaid program under title XIX of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or under a State child
health plan (or a waiver of such a plan) under the Children's Health
Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et
seq.) for the treatment of such fibroids and symptoms for purposes of
assessing the frequency at which such women are furnished such items
and services.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than the date that is one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator
shall submit to Congress a report on the amount of Federal and
State expenditures with respect to items and services furnished
for the treatment of uterine fibroids and fibroids-related
symptoms under State plans (or waivers of such plans) under the
Medicaid program under such title XIX and State child health
plans (or waivers of such plans) under the Children's Health
Insurance Program under such title XXI.
(2) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate the
development and submission of the report required under
paragraph (1) with each of the following:
(A) Within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services--
(i) the Office of Minority Health;
(ii) the Center for Medicaid and CHIP
Services;
(iii) the Office of Enterprise Data and
Analytics; and
(iv) any other office or center determined
appropriate by the Administrator.
(B) Any other relevant Federal agency, as
determined by the Administrator.
(c) 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 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 5. EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO
UTERINE FIBROIDS.
(a) Uterine Fibroids Public Education Program.--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop and disseminate to
the public information regarding uterine fibroids, including
information on--
(1) the awareness, incidence, and prevalence of uterine
fibroids among women, including all minority women;
(2) the elevated risk for minority women to develop uterine
fibroids; and
(3) the availability, as medically appropriate, of the
range of treatment options for symptomatic uterine fibroids,
including non-hysterectomy treatments and procedures.
(b) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary may disseminate
information under subsection (a) directly or through arrangements with
intra-agency initiatives, nonprofit organizations, consumer groups,
institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or Federal, State, or
local public private partnerships.
(c) 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 fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 6. INFORMATION TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE
FIBROIDS.
(a) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary of Health and
Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health
Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality shall, in consultation and in
accordance with guidelines from relevant medical societies, develop and
disseminate to health care providers information on uterine fibroids
for the purpose of ensuring that health care providers remain informed
about current information on uterine fibroids. Such information shall
include the elevated risk for minority women to develop uterine
fibroids and the range of available options for the treatment of
symptomatic uterine fibroids, including non-hysterectomy drugs and
devices approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 301 et seq.).
(b) 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 2021 through 2025.
SEC. 7. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``minority women'' means women who are
members of a racial and ethnic minority group, as defined in section
1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-6(g)).
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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