[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 484 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 484
To establish grant programs for maternal mental health equity and to
grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care
workforce.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2021
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Sanders)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish grant programs for maternal mental health equity and to
grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care
workforce.
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 ``Moms Matter Act''.
SEC. 2. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Assistant
Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a
program to award grants to eligible entities to address maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders with respect to pregnant
and postpartum individuals, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority
groups.
(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may provide, including how such entity will use funds for
activities described in subsection (d) that are culturally congruent.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to an eligible entity that--
(1) is, or will partner with, a community-based
organization to address maternal mental health conditions and
substance use disorders described in subsection (a);
(2) is operating in an area with high rates of--
(A) adverse maternal health outcomes; or
(B) significant racial or ethnic disparities in
maternal health outcomes; and
(3) is operating in a health professional shortage area
designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254e).
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use funds for the following:
(1) Establishing or expanding maternity care programs to
improve the integration of maternal health and behavioral
health care services into primary care settings where pregnant
individuals regularly receive health care services.
(2) Establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs
or postpartum care programs.
(3) Expanding existing programs that improve maternal
mental and behavioral health during the prenatal and postpartum
periods, with a focus on individuals from racial and ethnic
minority groups.
(4) Providing services and support for pregnant and
postpartum individuals with maternal mental health conditions
and substance use disorders, including referrals to addiction
treatment centers that offer evidence-based treatment options.
(5) Addressing stigma associated with maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
racial and ethnic minority groups.
(6) Raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic
minority groups.
(7) Establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide
or self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals.
(8) Offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding
birth centers that provide maternal mental and behavioral
health care education, treatments, and services, and other
services for individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum
period.
(9) Establishing or expanding programs to provide education
and training to maternity care providers with respect to--
(A) identifying potential warning signs for
maternal mental health conditions or substance use
disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals, with
a focus on individuals from racial and ethnic minority
groups; and
(B) in the case where such providers identify such
warning signs, offering referrals to mental and
behavioral health care professionals.
(10) Developing a website, or other source, that includes
information on health care providers who treat maternal mental
health conditions and substance use disorders.
(11) Establishing or expanding programs in communities to
improve coordination between maternity care providers and
mental and behavioral health care providers who treat maternal
mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including
through the use of toll-free hotlines.
(12) Carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-
based practices for addressing maternal mental health
conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and
postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.
(e) Reporting.--
(1) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under subsection (a) shall submit annually to the
Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the
activities conducted using funds received through a grant under
this section. Such reports shall include quantitative and
qualitative evaluations of such activities, including the
experience of individuals who received health care through such
grant.
(2) Secretary.--Not later than the end of fiscal year 2024,
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
(A) a summary of the reports received under
paragraph (1);
(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants
awarded under this section;
(C) recommendations with respect to expanding
coverage of evidence-based screenings and treatments
for maternal mental health conditions and substance use
disorders; and
(D) recommendations with respect to ensuring
activities described under subsection (d) continue
after the end of a grant period.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Culturally congruent.--The term ``culturally
congruent'', with respect to care or maternity care, means care
that is in agreement with the preferred cultural values,
beliefs, worldview, language, and practices of the health care
consumer and other stakeholders.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a community-based organization serving pregnant
and postpartum individuals, including such
organizations serving individuals from racial and
ethnic minority groups and other underserved
populations;
(B) a nonprofit or patient advocacy organization
with expertise in maternal mental and behavioral
health;
(C) a maternity care provider;
(D) a mental or behavioral health care provider who
treats maternal mental health conditions or substance
use disorders;
(E) a State or local governmental entity, including
a State or local public health department;
(F) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such
terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)); and
(G) an Urban Indian organization (as such term is
defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)).
(3) Freestanding birth center.--The term ``freestanding
birth center'' has the meaning given that term under section
1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
(4) Maternity care provider.--The term ``maternity care
provider'' means a health care provider who--
(A) is a physician, physician assistant, midwife
who meets at a minimum the international definition of
the midwife and global standards for midwifery
education as established by the International
Confederation of Midwives, nurse practitioner, or
clinical nurse specialist; and
(B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal health.
(5) Postpartum and postpartum period.--The terms
``postpartum'' and ``postpartum period'' refer to the 1-year
period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of an
individual.
(6) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term ``racial
and ethnic minority group'' has the meaning given such term in
section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300u-6(g)(1)).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2025.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 757 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294f) the following new
section:
``SEC. 758. MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to entities to
establish or expand programs described in subsection (b) to grow and
diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
``(b) Use of Funds.--Recipients of grants under this section shall
use the grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral
health care workforce by--
``(1) establishing schools or programs that provide
education and training to individuals seeking appropriate
licensing or certification as mental or behavioral health care
providers who will specialize in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders; or
``(2) expanding the capacity of existing schools or
programs described in paragraph (1), for the purposes of
increasing the number of students enrolled in such schools or
programs, including by awarding scholarships for students.
``(c) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to any entity that--
``(1) has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and
retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority
groups;
``(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a
diverse pool of students into the maternal mental or behavioral
health care workforce program or school supported by funds
received through the grant, particularly from racial and ethnic
minority groups and other underserved populations;
``(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage
area designated under section 332;
``(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
students who plan to practice in an area with significant
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, to
the extent practicable; and
``(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all students
within the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
program or school a bias, racism, or discrimination training
program that includes training on implicit bias and racism.
``(d) Reporting.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this
section for a maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
program or school, an entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary an
annual report on the activities conducted through the grant,
including--
``(1) the number and demographics of students participating
in the program or school;
``(2) the extent to which students in the program or school
are entering careers in--
``(A) health professional shortage areas designated
under section 332; and
``(B) areas with significant racial and ethnic
disparities in maternal health outcomes, to the extent
such data are available; and
``(3) whether the program or school has included in the
standard curriculum for all students a bias, racism, or
discrimination training program that includes training on
implicit bias and racism, and if so the effectiveness of such
training program.
``(e) Period of Grants.--The period of a grant under this section
shall be up to 5 years.
``(f) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection
(c).
``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide, directly
or by contract, technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a
grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and post-
grant period sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral health
care workforce programs or schools proposed to be, or being,
established or expanded through the grant.
``(h) Report by the Secretary.--Not later than 4 years after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and
submit to Congress, and post on the internet website of the Department
of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness of the
grant program under this section at--
``(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority
groups and other underserved populations;
``(2) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders from racial and ethnic
minority groups and other underserved populations;
``(3) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders working in health
professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and
``(4) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
care providers specializing in maternal mental health
conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with
significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health
outcomes, to the extent such data are available.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term `racial
and ethnic minority group' has the meaning given such term in
section 1707(g)(1).
``(2) Mental or behavioral health care provider.--The term
`mental or behavioral health care provider' refers to a health
care provider in the field of mental and behavioral health,
including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with
State law.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.''.
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