Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021

To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal health, to improve obstetric care in rural areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021 2. Table of Contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title . Sec. 2. Table of Contents. Title I—Improvements to Maternal Health Care Sec. 101. Innovation for maternal health. Sec. 102. Training for health care providers. Sec. 103. Study on improving training for health care providers. Sec. 104. Perinatal quality collaboratives. Sec. 105. Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women. Sec. 106. Maternal vaccination awareness. Title II—Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services Sec. 201. Improving rural maternal and obstetric care data. Sec. 202. Rural obstetric network grants. Sec. 203. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. Sec. 204. Rural maternal and obstetric care training demonstration. I Improvements to Maternal Health Care 101. Innovation for maternal health Title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 241 et seq. 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 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 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. . 102. Training for health care providers Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by striking section 763 ( 42 U.S.C. 294p 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, 2025, 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. . 103. 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. 104. Perinatal quality collaboratives (a) In general Section 317K(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–12(a)(2) (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. . (b) 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–12 105. Integrated services for pregnant and postpartum women (a) Grants Title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 241 et seq. 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) Priorities In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (i) give priority 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. . (b) Report on grant outcomes and dissemination of best practices (1) 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— (A) the outcomes of the activities supported by the grants awarded under the amendments made by this section on maternal and child health; (B) best practices and models of care used by recipients of grants under such amendments; and (C) 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. (2) 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. 106. Maternal vaccination awareness In carrying out the public awareness initiative related to vaccinations pursuant to section 313 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 245 II Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services 201. Improving rural maternal and obstetric care data (a) Maternal mortality and morbidity activities Section 301(e) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 241 , preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, delivery (b) Office of Women's Health Section 310A(b)(1) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 242s(b)(1) and sociocultural contexts, sociocultural (including among American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives), and geographical contexts, (c) Safe motherhood Section 317K of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–12 (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by inserting , including improving disaggregation of data (in a manner consistent with applicable State and Federal privacy laws) (2) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (L), by striking and (B) by redesignating subparagraph (M) as subparagraph (N); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (L) the following: (M) an examination of the relationship between maternal health and obstetric services in rural areas and outcomes in delivery and postpartum care; and . (d) Office of Research on Women's Health Section 486(d)(4)(A)(iv) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 287d(d)(4)(A)(iv) , including preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity 202. Rural obstetric network grants The Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 330A–1 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–1a 330A–2. Rural obstetric network grants (a) Program established The Secretary shall award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish collaborative improvement and innovation networks (referred to in this section as rural obstetric networks (b) Use of funds Grants or cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to this section shall be used for the establishment or continuation of collaborative improvement and innovation networks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services in rural areas. Rural obstetric networks established in accordance with this section may— (1) develop a network to improve coordination and increase access to maternal health care and assist pregnant women in the areas described in subsection (a) with accessing and utilizing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services to improve outcomes in birth and maternal mortality and morbidity; (2) identify and implement evidence-based and sustainable delivery models for providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, including home visiting programs and culturally appropriate care models that reduce health disparities; (3) develop a model for maternal health care collaboration between health care settings to improve access to care in areas described in subsection (a), which may include the use of telehealth; (4) provide training for professionals in health care settings that do not have specialty maternity care; (5) collaborate with academic institutions that can provide regional expertise and help identify barriers to providing maternal health care, including strategies for addressing such barriers; and (6) assess and address disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes, including among racial and ethnic minority populations and underserved populations in such areas described in subsection (a). (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entities The term eligible entities (2) Frontier area The term frontier area (3) Indian Tribes; Tribal organization The terms Indian Tribe Tribal organization Indian tribe tribal organization (4) Maternity care health professional target area The term maternity care health professional target area (d) Report to Congress Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on activities supported by grants awarded under this section, including— (1) a description of activities conducted pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b); and (2) an analysis of the effects of rural obstetric networks on improving maternal and infant health outcomes. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. . 203. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs Section 330I of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254c–14 (1) in subsection (f)(3), by adding at the end the following: (M) Providers of prenatal, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, including hospitals that operate obstetric care units. ; and (2) in subsection (h)(1)(B), by striking or prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies prenatal care, labor care, birthing care, or postpartum care 204. Rural maternal and obstetric care training demonstration Subpart 1 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 294n et seq. 764. Rural maternal and obstetric care training demonstration (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to accredited schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and nursing, and other appropriate health professional training programs, to establish a training demonstration program to support— (1) training for physicians, medical residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, certified nurse midwives, relevant home visiting workforce professionals and paraprofessionals, or other professionals who meet relevant State training and licensing requirements, as applicable, to reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care in rural community-based settings; and (2) developing recommendations for such training programs. (b) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c) Activities (1) Training for health care professionals A recipient of a grant under subsection (a)— (A) shall use the grant funds to plan, develop, and operate a training program to provide prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care in rural areas; and (B) may use the grant funds to provide additional support for the administration of the program or to meet the costs of projects to establish, maintain, or improve faculty development, or departments, divisions, or other units necessary to implement such training. (2) Training program requirements The recipient of a grant under subsection (a) shall ensure that training programs carried out under the grant are evidence-based and address improving prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care in rural areas, and such programs may include training on topics such as— (A) maternal mental health, including perinatal depression and anxiety; (B) substance use disorders; (C) social determinants of health that affect individuals living in rural areas; and (D) improving 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. (d) Evaluation and report (1) Evaluation (A) In general The Secretary shall evaluate the outcomes of the demonstration program under this section. (B) Data submission Recipients of a grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary performance metrics and other related data in order to evaluate the program for the report described in paragraph (2). (2) Report to Congress Not later than January 1, 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes— (A) an analysis of the effects of the demonstration program under this section on the quality, quantity, and distribution of maternal health care services, including prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, and the demographics of the recipients of those services; (B) an analysis of maternal and infant health outcomes (including quality of care, morbidity, and mortality) before and after implementation of the program in the communities served by entities participating in the demonstration; and (C) recommendations on whether the demonstration program should be continued. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. .

Summary: Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undertake activities to improve maternal health, including in rural areas. Specifically, HHS must award grants for (1) developing best practices to reduce preventable maternal mortality, and (2) training health care professionals to reduce and prevent discrimination when providing maternal health services. Additionally, HHS may award grants for integrated maternal and infant health care services. The bill also provides statutory authority for grants that support perinatal quality collaboratives, which are networks of health care and public health professionals who work to improve pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, the bill requires a study on efforts in health professional schools and training programs to reduce and prevent discrimination in the provision of maternal health services. To address care in rural areas, the bill (1) provides statutory authority for grants that support networks of rural providers to improve and coordinate maternal care, (2) makes maternal care providers eligible for certain telehealth grants, and (3) establishes a demonstration project to improve training on maternal care in rural areas through health professional schools and training programs. The bill also expands the maternal care responsibilities of specified HHS offices and programs.