Moms Matter Act
This bill establishes two grant programs to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, maternal health disparities, and other adverse outcomes.
First, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must award grants for maternal behavioral health services and education and training for health care providers about maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders in pregnancy. Eligible grantees include (1) state, tribal, and local governments; (2) health care providers; and (3) organizations that serve pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Second, the Department of Health and Human Services may award grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health workforce by establishing or expanding schools and training programs.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3312 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3312
To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use
disorders, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2023
Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Ms. Underwood)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use
disorders, 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 ``Moms Matter Act''.
SEC. 2. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use,
shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to
address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders,
with a focus on demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal
mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or
other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to an eligible entity that--
(1) is, or will partner with, a community-based
organization to address maternal mental health conditions and
substance use disorders described in subsection (a);
(2) is operating in an area with elevated rates of maternal
mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health
disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;
and
(3) is operating in a health professional shortage area
designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254e).
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant for the following:
(1) Establishing or expanding maternity care programs to
improve the integration of maternal mental health and
behavioral health care services into primary care settings
where pregnant individuals regularly receive health care
services.
(2) Establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs
or postpartum care programs.
(3) Expanding existing programs that improve maternal
mental and behavioral health during the prenatal and postpartum
periods, with a focus on individuals from demographic groups
with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse
perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(4) Providing services and support for pregnant and
postpartum individuals with maternal mental health conditions
and substance use disorders, including referrals to addiction
treatment centers that offer evidence-based treatment options.
(5) Addressing stigma associated with maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of
maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health
disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(6) Raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups
with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse
perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(7) Establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide
or self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals.
(8) Offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding
birth centers that provide maternal mental and behavioral
health care education, treatments, and services, and other
services for individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum
period.
(9) Establishing or expanding programs to provide education
and training to maternity care providers with respect to--
(A) identifying potential warning signs for
maternal mental health conditions or substance use
disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals, with
a focus on individuals from demographic groups with
elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other
adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and
(B) in the case where such providers identify such
warning signs, offering referrals to mental and
behavioral health care professionals.
(10) Developing a website, or other source, that includes
information on health care providers who treat maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders.
(11) Establishing or expanding programs in communities to
improve coordination between maternity care providers and
mental and behavioral health care providers who treat maternal
mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including
through the use of toll-free hotlines.
(12) Carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-
based practices for addressing maternal mental health
conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and
postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated
rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity,
maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or
childbirth outcomes.
(e) Reporting.--
(1) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under subsection (a) shall submit annually to the
Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the
activities conducted using funds received through a grant under
this section. Such reports shall include quantitative and
qualitative evaluations of such activities, including the
experience of individuals who received health care through such
grant.
(2) Secretary.--Not later than the end of fiscal year 2027,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
(A) a summary of the reports received under
paragraph (1);
(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants
awarded under this section;
(C) recommendations with respect to expanding
coverage of evidence-based screenings and treatments
for maternal mental health conditions and substance use
disorders; and
(D) recommendations with respect to ensuring
activities described under subsection (d) continue
after the end of a grant period.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a community-based organization serving pregnant
and postpartum individuals, including such
organizations serving individuals from demographic
groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality,
severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities,
or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;
(B) a nonprofit or patient advocacy organization
with expertise in maternal mental and behavioral
health;
(C) a maternity care provider;
(D) a mental or behavioral health care provider who
treats maternal mental health conditions or substance
use disorders;
(E) a State or local governmental entity, including
a State or local public health department;
(F) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such
terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)); and
(G) an Urban Indian organization (as such term is
defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)).
(2) Freestanding birth center.--The term ``freestanding
birth center'' has the meaning given that term under section
1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
(3) Maternal mortality.--The term ``maternal mortality''
means a death occurring during or within a 1-year period after
pregnancy, caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth
complications, including a suicide, overdose, or other death
resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder
attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth
complications.
(4) Maternity care provider.--The term ``maternity care
provider'' means a health care provider who--
(A) is a physician, a physician assistant, a
midwife who meets, at a minimum, the international
definition of a midwife and global standards for
midwifery education as established by the International
Confederation of Midwives, an advanced practice
registered nurse, or a lactation consultant certified
by the International Board of Lactation Consultant
Examiners; and
(B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal health.
(5) Postpartum and postpartum period.--The terms
``postpartum'' and ``postpartum period'' refer to the 1-year
period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of an
individual.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(7) Severe maternal morbidity.--The term ``severe maternal
morbidity'' means a health condition, including mental health
conditions and substance use disorders, attributed to or
aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in
significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health
of the individual who was pregnant.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2027.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 757 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294f) the following new
section:
``SEC. 758. MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to entities to
establish or expand programs described in subsection (b) to grow and
diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
``(b) Use of Funds.--Recipients of grants under this section shall
use the grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral
health care workforce by--
``(1) establishing schools or programs that provide
education and training to individuals seeking appropriate
licensing or certification as mental or behavioral health care
providers who will specialize in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders; or
``(2) expanding the capacity of existing schools or
programs described in paragraph (1), for the purposes of
increasing the number of students enrolled in such schools or
programs, including by awarding scholarships for students.
``(c) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to any entity that--
``(1) has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and
retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority
groups;
``(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a
diverse pool of students into the maternal mental or behavioral
health care workforce program or school supported by funds
received through the grant, particularly from racial and ethnic
minority groups and other underserved populations;
``(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage
area designated under section 332;
``(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
students who plan to practice in an area with significant
maternal health disparities, to the extent practicable; and
``(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all students
within the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
program or school a bias, racism, or discrimination training
program that includes training on implicit bias and racism.
``(d) Reporting.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this
section for a maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
program or school, an entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary an
annual report on the activities conducted through the grant,
including--
``(1) the number and demographics of students participating
in the program or school;
``(2) the extent to which students in the program or school
are entering careers in--
``(A) health professional shortage areas designated
under section 332; and
``(B) areas with significant maternal health
disparities, to the extent such data are available; and
``(3) whether the program or school has included in the
standard curriculum for all students a bias, racism, or
discrimination training program that includes training on
implicit bias and racism, and if so the effectiveness of such
training program.
``(e) Period of Grants.--The period of a grant under this section
shall be up to 5 years.
``(f) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection
(c).
``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide, directly
or by contract, technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a
grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and
postgrant period sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral
health care workforce programs or schools proposed to be, or being,
established or expanded through the grant.
``(h) Report by the Secretary.--Not later than 4 years after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and
submit to the Congress, and post on the internet website of the
Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness
of the grant program under this section at--
``(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority
groups and other underserved populations;
``(2) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders from racial and ethnic
minority groups and other underserved populations;
``(3) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders working in health
professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and
``(4) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with
significant maternal health disparities, to the extent such
data are available.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term `racial
and ethnic minority group' has the meaning given such term in
section 1707(g)(1).
``(2) Mental or behavioral health care provider.--The term
`mental or behavioral health care provider' refers to a health
care provider in the field of mental and behavioral health,
including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with
State law.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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