Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2023 or the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2023
This bill establishes grants within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for establishing or expanding midwifery programs at institutions of higher education and nursing schools. In awarding grants, HRSA must give special consideration to institutions that focus on increasing the number of midwife professionals from underrepresented groups and promote practicing in areas with limited access to professional health care.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1851 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1851
To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity
outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 7, 2023
Mr. Lujan (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity
outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, 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 ``Midwives for Maximizing Optimal
Maternity Services Act of 2023'' or the ``Midwives for MOMS Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is
amended by inserting after section 760 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294k) the
following:
``SEC. 760A. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to institutions
of higher education (as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of section
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) for the following:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited midwifery
school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited midwifery
school or program.
``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for
increasing the number of, qualified preceptors for training the
students of an accredited midwifery school or program.
``(b) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to any institution
of higher education that--
``(1) agrees to prioritize students who plan to practice in
a health professional shortage area designated under section
332; and
``(2) demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic
minority representation in midwifery education.
``(c) Restriction.--The Secretary shall not provide any assistance
under this section to be used with respect to a midwifery school or
program within a school of nursing (as defined in section 801).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $15,000,000 for the period of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Midwifery school or program.--Section 799B(1)(A) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(A)) is amended--
(A) by inserting ```midwifery school or program',''
before ``and `school of chiropractic''';
(B) by inserting ``a degree or certificate in
midwifery or an equivalent degree or certificate,''
before ``and a degree of doctor of chiropractic or an
equivalent degree''; and
(C) by striking ``any such school'' and inserting
``any such school or program''.
(2) Accredited.--Section 799B(1)(E) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``or
a midwifery school or program,'' before ``or a graduate program
in health administration''.
SEC. 3. NURSE-MIDWIVES.
Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 811 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 296j) the following:
``SEC. 812. MIDWIFERY EXPANSION PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to schools of
nursing for the following:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for
increasing the numbers of, preceptors at clinical training
sites to precept students training to become certified nurse-
midwives.
``(b) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to any school of
nursing that--
``(1) agrees to prioritize students who choose to pursue an
advanced education degree in nurse-midwifery to practice in a
health professional shortage area designated under section 332;
and
``(2) demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic
minority representation in nurse-midwifery education.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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