H.R. 8784

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8784 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8784

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals 
and freestanding birth centers to notify each mother of a miscarried 
fetus of her rights with respect to such fetus, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 13, 2026

Mrs. Cammack (for herself, Ms. Tenney, and Mr. Steube) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 
and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

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A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals 
and freestanding birth centers to notify each mother of a miscarried 
fetus of her rights with respect to such fetus, 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 ``Bereaved Parents Rights Act''.

SEC. 2. HOSPITAL AND BIRTH CENTER NOTICE AND FETAL DISPOSITION 
REQUIREMENTS.

Section 1866(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)) is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by moving subparagraphs (W) and (X) 2 ems to 
the left;
(B) in subparagraph (X), by striking ``and'' at the 
end;
(C) in subparagraph (Y), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ``, and''; and
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the 
following new subparagraph:
``(Z) beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this subparagraph, in the case of a hospital or 
freestanding birth center (as defined in section 1905(l)), to 
meet the requirements of paragraph (4).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4)(A) For purposes of paragraph (1)(Z), a hospital or 
freestanding birth center shall--
``(i) in the case that the hospital or freestanding birth 
center has custody of a fetus following a miscarriage or 
stillbirth, not later than the earliest of 6 hours following 
the miscarriage or stillbirth or when the parent is discharged 
from such hospital or freestanding birth center, notify the 
parent or parents of the fetus (using a form developed by the 
Secretary) of the right of the parents to--
``(I) a private or common burial of the fetus;
``(II) cremation of the fetus; or
``(III) disposal of the fetus by the hospital or 
freestanding birth center; and
``(ii) in the case that, not later than 72 hours after 
receiving the notice described in clause (i), a parent elects 
in writing (using the form described in such clause) to arrange 
for the burial or cremation of the fetus, ensure that the 
disposition of the fetus follows the same fetal death 
disposition options of the State that apply in the case of a 
fetal death that occurs in the State.
``(B) Any individual who is harmed as a result of a violation of 
the requirements of subparagraph (A) may bring a civil action in an 
appropriate district court of the United States for appropriate 
relief.''.
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