110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 223
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make
grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound
equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 4, 2007
Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mrs. SCHMIDT, and Mr. RENZI) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make
grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound
equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services,
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 `Informed Choice Act'.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PURCHASE OF ULTRASOUND EQUIPMENT.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make grants
for the purchase of ultrasound equipment. Such ultrasound equipment shall
be used by the recipients of such grants to provide, under the direction
and supervision of a licensed medical physician, free ultrasound examinations
to pregnant women needing such services.
(b) Eligibility Requirements- An entity may receive a grant under subsection
(a) only if the entity meets the following conditions:
(1) The entity is a nonprofit private organization that is approved by
the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt entity under section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2) The entity operates as a community-based pregnancy help medical clinic,
as defined in subsection (f).
(3) The entity provides medical services to pregnant women under the guidance
and supervision of a physician who serves as the medical director of the
clinic and is duly licensed to practice medicine in the State in which
the entity is located.
(4) The entity is legally qualified to provide such medical services to
pregnant women and is in compliance with all Federal, State, and local
requirements for the provision of such services.
(5) The entity agrees to comply with the following medical procedures:
(A) Each pregnant woman upon whom the ultrasound equipment is used will
be shown the visual image of the fetus from the ultrasound examination
and will be given a general anatomical and physiological description
of the characteristics of the fetus.
(B) Each pregnant woman will be given, according to the best medical
judgment of the physician performing the ultrasound examination or the
physician's agent performing such exam, the approximate age of the embryo
or fetus considering the number of weeks elapsed from the probable time
of the conception of the embryo or fetus, based upon the information
provided by the client as to the time of her last menstrual period,
her medical history, a physical examination, or appropriate laboratory
tests.
(C) Each pregnant woman will be given information on abortion and alternatives
to abortion such as childbirth and adoption and information concerning
public and private agencies that will assist in those alternatives.
(D) The entity will obtain and maintain medical malpractice insurance
in an amount not less than $1,000,000, and such insurance will cover
all activities relating to the use of the ultrasound machine purchased
with the grant under subsection (a).
(6) The entity does not receive more than 30 percent of its gross annual
revenue from a single source or donor.
(c) Limitation on Individual Grant Amount- No grant under subsection (a)
may be made in an amount that exceeds an amount equal to 50 percent of the
purchase price cost of the ultrasound machine involved, or $20,000, whichever
is less.
(d) Application for Grant- A grant may be made under subsection (a) only
if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application
is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances,
and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out
this section.
(e) Annual Report to Secretary- A grant may be made under subsection (a)
only if the applicant for the grant agrees to report on an annual basis
to the Secretary, in such form and manner as the Secretary may require,
on the ongoing compliance of the applicant with the eligibility conditions
established in subsection (b).
(f) Definitions- For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term `community-based pregnancy help medical clinic' means a facility
that--
(A) provides free medical services to pregnant women under the supervision
and direction of a licensed physician who serves as the medical director
for such clinic; and
(B) does not charge for any services rendered to its clients, whether
or not such services are for pregnancy or nonpregnancy related matters.
(2) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations- For the purpose of carrying out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year
2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009
through 2010.
END
