Tech to Save Moms Act

“330N. Expanding capacity for maternal health outcomes

“(a) Program established—Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, as appropriate, award grants to eligible entities to evaluate, develop, and, as appropriate, expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, to improve maternal health outcomes in health professional shortage areas; areas with high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes; and for medically underserved populations or American Indians and Alaska Natives, including Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

“(b) Use of Funds

“(1) Required uses—Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be used for—

“(A) the development and acquisition of instructional programming, and the training of maternal health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of services through models such as—

“(i) training on adopting and effectively implementing Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (referred to in this section as “AIM”) safety and quality improvement bundles;

“(ii) training on implicit and explicit bias, racism, and discrimination for providers of maternity care;

“(iii) training on best practices in screening for and, as needed, evaluating and treating maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders;

“(iv) training on how to screen for social determinants of health risks in the prenatal and postpartum periods such as inadequate housing, lack of access to nutrition, environmental risks, and transportation barriers; and

“(v) training on the use of remote patient monitoring tools for pregnancy-related complications described in section 1115A(b)(2)(B)(xxviii);

“(B) information collection and evaluation activities to—

“(i) study the impact of such models on—

“(I) access to and quality of care;

“(II) patient outcomes;

“(III) subjective measures of patient experience; and

“(IV) cost-effectiveness; and

“(ii) identify best practices for the expansion and use of such models;

“(C) information collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models on patient outcomes and maternal health care providers, and to identify best practices the expansion and use of such models; and

“(D) any other activity consistent with achieving the objectives of grants awarded under this section, as determined by the Secretary.

“(2) Permissible uses—In addition to any of the uses under paragraph (1), grants awarded under subsection (a) may be used for—

“(A) equipment to support the use and expansion of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, including for hardware and software that enables distance learning, maternal health care provider support, and the secure exchange of electronic health information; and

“(B) support for maternal health care providers and other professionals that provide or assist in the provision of maternity care services through such models.

“(c) Limitations

“(1) Number—The Secretary may not award more than 1 grant under this section to an eligible entity.

“(2) Duration—Each grant under this section shall be made for a period of up to 5 years.

“(3) Amount—The Secretary shall determine the maximum amount of each grant under this section.

“(d) Grant requirements—The Secretary shall require entities awarded a grant under this section to collect information on the effect of the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models, such as on maternal health outcomes, access to maternal health care services, quality of maternal health care, and maternal health care provider retention in areas and populations described in subsection (a). The Secretary may award a grant or contract to assist in the coordination of such models, including to assess outcomes associated with the use of such models in grants awarded under subsection (a), including for the purpose described in subsection (b)(1)(B).

“(e) Application

“(1) In general—An eligible entity that seeks to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

“(2) Matters to be included—Such application shall include plans to assess the effect of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models on indicators, including access to and quality of care, patient outcomes, subjective measures of patient experience, and cost-effectiveness. Such indicators may focus on—

“(A) health professional shortage areas;

“(B) areas with high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes; and

“(C) medically underserved populations or American Indians and Alaska Natives, including Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

“(f) Access to broadband—In administering grants under this section, the Secretary may coordinate with other agencies to ensure that funding opportunities are available to support access to reliable, high-speed internet for grantees.

“(g) Technical assistance—The Secretary shall provide (either directly through the Department of Health and Human Services or by contract) technical assistance to eligible entities, including recipients of grants under subsection (a), on the development, use, and post-grant sustainability of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models in order to expand access to maternal health care services provided by such entities, including for health professional shortage areas and areas with high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, and to medically underserved populations or American Indians and Alaska Natives, including Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

“(h) Research and evaluation—The Secretary, in consultation with stakeholders with appropriate expertise in such models, shall develop a strategic plan to research and evaluate the evidence for such models. The Secretary shall use such plan to inform the activities carried out under this section.

“(i) Reporting

“(1) By eligible entities—An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary a report, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

“(2) 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 including, at minimum—

“(A) a description of any new and continuing grants awarded under subsection (a) and the specific purpose and amounts of such grants;

“(B) an overview of—

“(i) the evaluations conducted under subsection (b);

“(ii) technical assistance provided under subsection (g); and

“(iii) activities conducted by entities awarded grants under subsection (a); and

“(C) a description of any significant findings related to patient outcomes or maternal health care providers and best practices for eligible entities expanding, using, or evaluating technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models.

“(j) Authorization of appropriations—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

“(k) Definitions—In this section:

“(1) Eligible entity

“(A) In general—The term “eligible entity” means an entity that provides, or supports the provision of, maternal health care services or other evidence-based services for pregnant and postpartum women—

“(i) in health professional shortage areas;

“(ii) in areas with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes; or

“(iii) medically underserved populations or American Indians and Alaska Natives, including Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

“(B) Inclusions—An eligible entity may include entities leading, or capable of leading, a technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model or engaging in technology-enabled collaborative training of participants in such model.

“(2) Health professional shortage area—The term “health professional shortage area” means a health professional shortage area designated under section 332.

“(3) Indian tribe—The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

“(4) Maternal mortality—The term “maternal mortality” means a death occurring during or within a 1-year period after pregnancy caused by pregnancy or childbirth complications.

“(5) Medically underserved population—The term “medically underserved population” has the meaning given such term in section 330(b)(3).

“(6) Postpartum—The term “postpartum” means the 1-year period beginning on the last date of the pregnancy of a woman.

“(7) Severe maternal mortality—The term “severe maternal morbidity” means an unexpected outcome caused by labor and delivery of a woman that results in a significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health of the woman.

“(8) Technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model—The term “technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building model” means a distance health education model that connects health care professionals, and particularly specialists, with multiple other health care professionals through simultaneous interactive videoconferencing for the purpose of facilitating case-based learning, disseminating best practices, and evaluating outcomes in the context of maternal health care.

“(9) Tribal organization—The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.

“(10) Urban Indian organization—The term “urban Indian organization” has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.”