Maternity Care Improvements Act

HR 3365 IH: Maternity Care Improvements

Direct Link: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr3365ih

Section 101. Short title

The short title of this Act shall be the “Maternity Care Improvements for Mothers and Newborns Act”.

Sec. 102. Definitions

(a) In general.—In this section, the term “designated provider” means a physician (including an obstetrician-gynecologist), hospital, clinical practice, or clinical group practice, rural clinic, community health center, community mental health center, or any other entity or provider that is determined by the State and approved by the Secretary to be qualified to provide pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services.

(b) In general.—In this section, the term “maternity health home” means a designated provider (including a provider that operates in coordination with a team of health care professionals) or a health team that is selected by an eligible woman to provide pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services.

Sec. 103. Maternity health homes

(a) In general.—The Secretary shall establish a program of maternity health homes, which may be referred to in this section as the “maternity health home initiative,” to provide pregnant women and new mothers with access to pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services.

(b) Establishment of program.—The program under subsection (a) shall—

be established in consultation with State and local governments;
provide for the designation of maternity health homes by States; and
be designed to provide pregnant women and new mothers with access to pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services.

Sec. 104. State plan amendments

(a) In general.—The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, provide to each State that has submitted a plan under section 201(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1301(d)) an opportunity for—

(A) the Secretary to review and comment on the plan;
B) the State to revise and resubmit the plan in response to any comments from the Secretary; and
C) the Secretary to approve or reject the plan, as appropriate.

(b) State-specific requirements.—A plan submitted by a State under section 201(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1301(d)) shall—

provide for the designation of maternity health homes;
provide for the provision of pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services in accordance with subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 103; and
provide for the coordination of care under section 103(a).

Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Appropriations for maternity health home initiative.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, out of the general fund of the Treasury, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 to remain available until expended.

(b) Limitation on expenditures.—The total amount of payments made to States under section 103(b) shall not exceed $50,000,000.