,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bjjd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #aj1 #bjbe,mr4 ,heinrich 7for himself and ,mr4 ,wicker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to issue guidance on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital syphilis under ,medicaid and the ,children's ,health ,insurance ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,maternal and ,infant ,syphilis ,prevention ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,in #bjbc1 there were #bji1bec cases of syphilis in the ,united ,states1 the highest number since #aiej4 ,this represents an #hj percent increase since #bjah and continuing a decades-long upward trend4 7#b7 ,untreated1 syphilis can seriously damage the heart and brain and can cause blindness1 deafness1 and paralysis4 7#c7 ,the increased rise in syphilis cases is causing the rise in congenital syphilis with more than #c1hhb1 a #c percent increase from #bjbb1 resulting in #beb stillbirths and #bg infant deaths4 ,the cases are more than #aj times the number diagnosed in #bjab4 7#d7 ,when transmitted during pregnancy1 congenital syphilis can cause miscarriage1 lifelong medical issues1 and infant death4 ,congenital syphilis can present health issues for babies at birth1 including neonatal death1 meningitis1 anemia1 and problems with the spleen and liver4 ,if not treated1 congenital syphilis can cause bone and joint problems1 vision and hearing problems1 issues with the nervous system1 and developmental delays4 7#e7 ,high incidence rates of congenital syphilis are often due to lack of timely testing or inadequate treatment during pregnancy4 ,timely syphilis testing and treatment during pregnancy might be able to prevent almost #ij percent of congenital syphilis cases4 7#f7 ,requirements for syphilis screening among pregnant women varies by ,state4 ,the majority of ,states require syphilis screening in the first visit1 significantly less ,states require syphilis screenings during the third trimester or at delivery4 7#g7 ,screening during the third trimester and at delivery can lead to earlier detection of congenital syphilis and prevent adverse health outcomes for mothers and newborn infants4 7#h7 ,increased awareness and education are critical in reducing syphilis among pregnant women to prevent congenital syphilis4 #c4 ,guidance and technical assistance under ,state ,medicaid programs and ,state ,c,h,i,ps 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance to ,state agencies responsible for administering ,state ,medicaid programs1 ,state ,c,h,i,ps1 or both such programs1 the ,indian ,health ,service1 ,indian ,tribes1 tribal organizations1 and ,urban ,indian organizations1 on best practices with respect to actions that ,state ,medicaid programs1 ,state ,c,h,i,ps1 ,indian health programs1 and urban ,indian health programs operated by an urban ,indian organization pursuant to a grant or contract with the ,indian ,health ,service pursuant to title ,v of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq47 may take1 including by using waivers under section #aaae of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acae7 and authorities under title ,,xix of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq47 and title ,,xxi of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;aa et seq471 for the following purposes3 7#a7 ,improving access to expand syphilis screening for pregnant women and babies4 7#b7 ,best practices for educating medical professionals and pregnant women with respect to syphilis4 7#c7 ,strategies for integrating telehealth services and training for providers and patients on the use of telehealth1 including working with interpreters to furnish health services and providing resources with respect to congenital syphilis in multiple languages4 7#d7 ,best practices for increasing testing for syphilis in the third trimester and at delivery4 7#e7 ,improving treatment for syphilis and congenital syphilis4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,indian ,tribe1 tribal organization1 ,urban ,indian1 ,urban ,indian organization1 ,indian health program ,the terms ,indian tribe1 tribal organization1 ,urban ,indian1 ,urban ,indian organization1 and ,indian health program have the meanings given those terms in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc74 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #aaja7;a77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acja7;a77#a77 for purposes of titles ,,xix and ,,xxi of such ,act4 7#d7 ,state chip ,the term ,state ,,chip means a ,state child health plan for child health assistance under title ,,xxi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;aa et seq471 and includes any waiver of such a plan4 7#e7 ,state medicaid program ,the term ,state ,medicaid program means a ,state plan for medical assistance under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq471 and includes any waiver of such a plan4 7c7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor and ,pensions of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate1 and shall make publicly available1 a report analyzing the implementation of the best practices described in subsection 7a74