Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act”.
Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act
A BILL
To improve maternal health.
Sec. 2 Innovation for maternal health
Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330N of such Act, the following:
“330O. Innovation for maternal health
“(a) In general—The Secretary, in consultation with experts representing a variety of clinical specialties, State, tribal, or local public health officials, researchers, epidemiologists, statisticians, and community organizations, shall establish or continue a program to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of—
“(1) identifying, developing, or disseminating best practices to improve maternal health care quality, improve maternal and infant health outcomes, eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and improve infant health outcomes, which may include—
“(A) information on evidence-based practices to improve the quality and safety of maternal health care in hospitals and other health care settings of a State or health care system by addressing topics commonly associated with health complications or risks related to prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care;
“(B) best practices for improving maternal health care based on data findings and reviews conducted by a State maternal mortality review committee that address topics of relevance to common complications or health risks related to prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care; and
“(C) information on addressing determinants of health that impact maternal health outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy;
“(2) collaborating with State maternal mortality review committees to identify issues for the development and implementation of evidence-based practices to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, consistent with section 317K;
“(3) providing technical assistance and supporting the implementation of best practices identified in paragraph (1) to entities providing health care services to pregnant and postpartum women; and
“(4) identifying, developing, and evaluating new models of care that improve maternal and infant health outcomes, which may include the integration of community-based services and clinical care.
“(b) Eligible entities—To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—
“(1) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and
“(2) demonstrate in such application that the entity is capable of carrying out data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiatives in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology or maternal health.
“(c) Report—Not later than September 30, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the practices described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). Such report shall include a description of the extent to which such practices reduced preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and whether such practices improved maternal and infant health. The Secretary shall disseminate information on such practices, as appropriate.
“(d) Authorization of appropriations—To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.”
Sec. 3 Training for health care providers
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by striking section 763 (42 U.S.C. 294p) and inserting the following:
“763. Training for health care providers
“(a) Grant program—The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants to accredited schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and nursing, and other health professional training programs for the training of health care professionals to improve the provision of prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care for racial and ethnic minority populations, including with respect to perceptions and biases that may affect the approach to, and provision of, care.
“(b) Eligibility—To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), an entity described in such subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
“(c) Reporting requirements
“(1) Periodic grantee reports—Each entity awarded a grant under this section shall periodically submit to the Secretary a report on the status of activities conducted using the grant, including a description of the impact of such training on patient outcomes, as applicable.
“(2) Report to Congress—Not later than September 30, 2024, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the activities conducted using grants under subsection (a) and any best practices identified and disseminated under subsection (d).
“(d) Best practices—The Secretary may identify and disseminate best practices for the training described in subsection (a).
“(e) Authorization of appropriations—To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.”
Sec. 4 Study on improving training for health care providers
Not later than 2 years after date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, through a contract with an independent research organization, conduct a study and make recommendations for accredited schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and nursing, and other health professional training programs on best practices related to training to improve the provision of prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care for racial and ethnic minority populations, including with respect to perceptions and biases that may affect the approach to, and provision of, care.
Sec. 5 Perinatal quality collaboratives
In general— Section 317K(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–12(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(E)
“(i) The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in coordination with other offices and agencies, as appropriate, shall establish or continue a competitive grant program for the establishment or support of perinatal quality collaboratives to improve perinatal care and perinatal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. A State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization may use funds received through such grant to—
“(I) support the use of evidence-based or evidence-informed practices to improve outcomes for maternal and infant health;
“(II) work with clinical teams; experts; State, local, and, as appropriate, tribal public health officials; and stakeholders, including patients and families, to identify, develop, or disseminate best practices to improve perinatal care and outcomes; and
“(III) employ strategies that provide opportunities for health care professionals and clinical teams to collaborate across health care settings and disciplines, including primary care and mental health, as appropriate, to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, which may include the use of data to provide timely feedback across hospital and clinical teams to inform responses, and to provide support and training to hospital and clinical teams for quality improvement, as appropriate.
“(ii) To be eligible for a grant under clause (i), an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form and manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require.”
Report to Congress— Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report regarding the activities conducted by recipients of grants under subsection (a)(2)(E) of section 317K of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–12).
Sec. 6 Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women
Grants— Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330O of such Act, as added by section 2, the following:
“330P. Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women
“(a) In general—The Secretary may award grants for the purpose of establishing or operating evidence-based or innovative, evidence-informed programs to deliver integrated health care services to pregnant and postpartum women to optimize the health of women and their infants, including to reduce adverse maternal health outcomes, pregnancy-related deaths, and related health disparities (including such disparities associated with racial and ethnic minority populations), and, as appropriate, by addressing issues researched under subsection (b)(2) of section 317K.
“(b) Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women
“(1) Eligibility—To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) shall work with relevant stakeholders that coordinate care to develop and carry out the program, including—
“(A) State, Tribal, and local agencies responsible for Medicaid, public health, social services, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment and services;
“(B) health care providers who serve pregnant and postpartum women; and
“(C) community-based health organizations and health workers, including providers of home visiting services and individuals representing communities with disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and including those representing racial and ethnic minority populations.
“(2) Terms
“(A) Period—A grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be made for a period of 5 years. Any supplemental award made to a grantee under subsection (a) may be made for a period of less than 5 years.
“(B) Preference—In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—
“(i) give preference to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations that have the highest rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity relative to other such States, Indian Tribes, or Tribal organizations, respectively; and
“(ii) shall consider health disparities related to maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, including such disparities associated with racial and ethnic minority populations.
“(C) Evaluation—The Secretary shall require grantees to evaluate the outcomes of the programs supported under the grant.
“(c) Authorization of appropriations—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.”
Report on grant outcomes and dissemination of best practices—
Report— Not later than February 1, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that describes—
the outcomes of the activities supported by the grants awarded under the amendments made by this section on maternal and child health;
best practices and models of care used by recipients of grants under such amendments; and
obstacles identified by recipients of grants under such amendments, and strategies used by such recipients to deliver care, improve maternal and child health, and reduce health disparities.
Dissemination of best practices— Not later than August 1, 2026, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall disseminate information on best practices and models of care used by recipients of grants under the amendments made by this section (including best practices and models of care relating to the reduction of health disparities, including such disparities associated with racial and ethnic minority populations, in rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity) to relevant stakeholders, which may include health providers, medical schools, nursing schools, relevant State, tribal, and local agencies, and the general public.