H.R. 9065: Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2026, aims to improve research and support services for individuals experiencing mental health complications following pregnancy loss, which includes miscarriages, stillbirths, or abortions.

Research Initiatives

The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), to:

• Expand Research: Increase and intensify research on mental health issues, such as persistent complex bereavement disorder, that can arise after a pregnancy loss.
• Coordinate Efforts: Work alongside other national research institutes on related mental health topics.
• Conduct Various Studies:
  • Investigate the causes of mental health conditions related to pregnancy loss.
  • Develop better screening and diagnostic techniques.
  • Evaluate new treatments and therapies.
  • Create educational programs for healthcare professionals and the public.
• Longitudinal Study: Conduct a national study to assess how prevalent mental health complications are after pregnancy loss, including the symptoms, severity, and duration, and report progress to Congress every three years.

Funding

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $4.5 million per year for the fiscal years 2027 and 2028 for these research initiatives.

Delivery of Services

To help individuals affected by pregnancy loss, the bill proposes the following actions:

• Grant Program: Modify existing health programs to include women who have experienced a pregnancy loss, enabling them to access services previously available only to pregnant and postpartum women.
• Use of Grant Funds: Allocate grant funds for establishing and operating mental health service systems that support individuals dealing with complications from pregnancy loss, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Best Practices: Disseminate effective methods for supporting individuals impacted by pregnancy loss.
• Service Expansion:
  • Enhance outpatient and home-based mental health services and support for affected families.
  • Improve inpatient care management for mothers and families.
  • Raise the quality and organization of healthcare and support services, including transportation, counseling, and assistance with insurance and financial issues.
• Subgrants: Allow recipients of the grants to make subgrants to relevant organizations that are experienced in providing such services, as long as they do not perform or fund abortions (with exceptions related to specific circumstances).
• Administrative Limits: Ensure that administrative costs do not exceed 5% of the grant amount and that funds supplement rather than replace existing resources for mental health services.

Prohibitions

The bill includes specific provisions that prohibit grant funding to entities that perform or finance abortions outside of certain exceptions, ensuring that these funds are directed towards service delivery for mental health complications after pregnancy loss.

Reporting and Compliance

Entities receiving grants must follow outlined compliance requirements, including limitations on services provided if payment is available from other sources, ensuring accountability and proper use of federal funds.

Relevant Companies

None found