PUBLIC LAW 115–320—DEC. 17, 2018 132 STAT. 4437 

Public Law 115–320 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to distribute maternity care health professionals to health professional shortage areas identified as in need of maternity 

care health services. 

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 ‘‘Improving Access to Maternity 

Care Act’’. 

SEC. 2. MATERNITY CARE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TARGET AREAS. 

Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) 

is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(k)(1) The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the 

Health Resources and Services Administration, shall identify, based 

on the data collected under paragraph (3), maternity care health 

professional target areas that satisfy the criteria described in paragraph (2) for purposes of, in connection with receipt of assistance 

under this title, assigning to such identified areas maternity care 

health professionals who, without application of this subsection, 

would otherwise be eligible for such assistance. The Secretary shall 

distribute maternity care health professionals within health professional shortage areas using the maternity care health professional 

target areas so identified. 

‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish 

criteria for maternity care health professional target areas that 

identify geographic areas within health professional shortage areas 

that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals. 

‘‘(3) For purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall collect 

and publish in the Federal Register data comparing the availability 

and need of maternity care health services in health professional 

shortage areas and in areas within such health professional shortage areas. 

‘‘(4) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek 

input from relevant provider organizations, including medical societies, organizations representing medical facilities, and other 

organizations with expertise in maternity care. 

‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘full scope maternity care health services’ includes during labor care, birthing, prenatal care, and postpartum care. 

‘‘(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as— 

‘‘(A) requiring the identification of a maternity care health 

professional target area in an area not otherwise already designated as a health professional shortage area; or 

Definition. 

Federal Register, 

publication. 

Criteria. 

Improving Access 

to Maternity 

Care Act. 

42 USC 201 note. 

Dec. 17, 2018 

[H.R. 315] 


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132 STAT. 4438 PUBLIC LAW 115–320—DEC. 17, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 315: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 163 (2017): Jan. 9, considered and passed House. 

Vol. 164 (2018): Dec. 6, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

‘‘(B) affecting the types of health professionals, without 

application of this subsection, otherwise eligible for assistance, 

including a loan repayment or scholarship, pursuant to the 

application of this section.’’. 

Approved December 17, 2018. 


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