---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254c–21"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "254c–21"
heading: "Innovation for maternal health"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254c-21"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart i — health centers"
---

# §254c–21. Innovation for maternal health

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with experts representing a variety of clinical specialties, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), Tribal, or local public health officials, researchers, epidemiologists, statisticians, and community organizations, shall establish or continue a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of—
  - (1) identifying, developing, or disseminating best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to improve maternal health care quality and outcomes, improve maternal and infant health, and eliminate preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, which may include—
    - (A) information on evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to improve the quality and safety of maternal health care in [hospitals](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) and other health care settings of a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) 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](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for improving maternal health care based on data findings and reviews conducted by a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) maternal mortality review committees to identify issues for the development and implementation of evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, consistent with [section 247b–12 of this title](/usc/42/247b–12.md);
  - (3) providing technical assistance and supporting the implementation of best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) identified in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) to entities providing health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and clinical care.
- (b) **Eligible entities—** To be eligible for a grant under [subsection (a)](#a), an entity shall—
  - (1) submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) 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, 2025, and every 2 years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall submit a report to Congress on the [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) described in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) and [(2)](#a-2) of subsection (a). Such report shall include a description of the extent to which such [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) reduced preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and whether such [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) improved maternal and infant health. The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall disseminate information on such [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), 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 2023 through 2027.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 330O, as added Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 131, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 794.)