On July 22, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved, by voice vote, the Nationally Enhancing the Wellbeing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act (H.R. 3470), after adopting a substitute amendment by Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), also by voice vote.
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), The NEWBORN Act would authorize $10 million annually for FY2011-2015 to establish a five-year grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for organizations that “create, implement, and oversee infant mortality pilot programs.” Organizations that receive the grants would be able to use the funds to craft programs that take into account community needs; conduct outreach to at-risk mothers; and “develop and implement standardized systems for improved access, [use], and quality of services that promote healthy pregnancies, full-term births, and healthy infancies,” including counseling on infant care, feeding, and parenting; postpartum care; smoking cessation, drug, and alcohol counseling; prevention of premature birth; rural outreach; and regional public outreach campaigns.
Organizations that receive the grant would be required to report annually on its program. The report would include the methodology, outcomes, and statistics of the program.
