Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1696590945453.pdf (United States)
I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3312 To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 15, 2023 Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Ms. UNDER- WOOD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives 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 PRO- GRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a 10 program to award grants to eligible entities to address ma ternal mental health conditions and substance use dis- orders, with a focus on demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(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 re- 10 quire.
11 12 (c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec- tion, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity 13 that— (1) is, or will partner with, a community-based organization to address maternal mental health con- ditions and substance use disorders described in sub- section (a); (2) is operating in an area with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and (3) is operating in a health professional short- age area designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254e).
•HR 3312 IH (d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant for the fol- lowing: (1) Establishing or expanding maternity care programs to improve the integration of maternal mental health and behavioral health care services into primary care settings where pregnant individ- uals 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 in- dividuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal mor- bidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(4) Providing services and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, in- cluding referrals to addiction treatment centers that offer evidence-based treatment options.
(5) Addressing stigma associated with maternal mental health conditions and substance use dis- orders, with a focus on individuals from demo- •HR 3312 IH graphic groups with elevated rates of maternal mor- tality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(6) Raising awareness of warning signs of ma- ternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal mor- bidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.

(7) Establishing or expanding programs to pre- vent suicide or self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals.
(8) Offering evidence-aligned programs at free- standing 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 pro- vide education and training to maternity care pro- viders with respect to— (A) identifying potential warning signs for maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum indi- •HR 3312 IH viduals, with a focus on individuals from demo- graphic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and (B) in the case where such providers iden- tify 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 sub- stance use disorders.

(11) Establishing or expanding programs in communities to improve coordination between mater- nity 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 dis- orders for pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal •HR 3312 IH health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
(e) REPORTING.— (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall sub- mit 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 quali- tative evaluations of such activities, including the ex- perience of individuals who received health care through such grant.
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of fis- cal year 2027, the Secretary shall submit to Con- gress 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 ex- panding coverage of evidence-based screenings and treatments for maternal mental health con- ditions and substance use disorders; and •HR 3312 IH 7 (D) recommendations with respect to en- suring activities described under subsection (d) continue after the end of a grant period.
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti- ty’’ means— (A) a community-based organization serv- ing pregnant and postpartum individuals, in- cluding such organizations serving individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; (B) a nonprofit or patient advocacy organi- zation with expertise in maternal mental and behavioral health; (C) a maternity care provider; (D) a mental or behavioral health care pro- vider who treats maternal mental health condi- tions or substance use disorders; (E) a State or local governmental entity, including a State or local public health depart- ment; (F) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the •HR 3312 IH Indian Self-Determination and Education As- sistance 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)).

(2) FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER.—The term ‘‘freestanding birth center’’ has the meaning given that term under section 1905(l) of the Social Secu- rity Act (42 U.S.C.

1396d(1)).
1396d(1)).

(3) MATERNAL MORTALITY.—The term ‘‘mater- nal mortality’’ means a death occurring during or within a 1-year period after pregnancy, caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications, in- cluding a suicide, overdose, or other death resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder at- tributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications.
(4) MATERNITY CARE PROVIDER.—The term ‘‘maternity care provider’’ means a health care pro- vider who— (A) is a physician, a physician assistant, a midwife who meets, at a minimum, the inter- national definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as estab- •HR 3312 IH lished by the International Confederation of Midwives, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a lactation consultant certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; 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) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(7) SEVERE MATERNAL MORBIDITY.—The term ‘‘severe maternal morbidity’’ means a health condi- tion, including mental health conditions and sub- stance use disorders, attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health of the individual who was pregnant.

(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027.
•HR 3312 IH 10 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 16 by— ‘‘(1) establishing schools or programs that pro- vide 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 pur- poses of increasing the number of students enrolled •HR 3312 IH 11 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 re- cruiting and retaining students and faculty from ra- cial and ethnic minority groups; ‘‘(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and re- tain 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 re- tain students who plan to practice in a health pro- fessional shortage area designated under section 332; ‘‘(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and re- tain students who plan to practice in an area with significant maternal health disparities, 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, rac- •HR 3312 IH 12 ism, or discrimination training program that in- cludes training on implicit bias and racism.
‘‘(d) REPORTING.—As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section for a maternal mental or behav- ioral 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 pro- gram or school are entering careers in— ‘‘(A) health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and ‘‘(B) areas with significant maternal health disparities, to the extent such data are avail- able; and ‘‘(3) whether the program or school has in- cluded 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 sec- tion, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application •HR 3312 IH 13 at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor- mation as the Secretary may require, including any infor- mation necessary for prioritization under subsection (c).
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide, directly or by contract, technical assistance to en- tities seeking or receiving a grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and postgrant 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 the 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 behav- ioral 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 behav- ioral health care providers specializing in maternal •HR 3312 IH 14 mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in health professional shortage areas des- ignated under section 332; and ‘‘(4) increasing the number of mental or behav- ioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with significant maternal health disparities, 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 sub- stance use disorders, acting in accordance with State law.
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro- priated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.’’.

 •HR 3312 IH