IMPACT to Save Moms Act

To direct the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to implement the Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project to test various payment models with respect to maternity care provided to pregnant and postpartum individuals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To Save Moms Act IMPACT to Save Moms Act 2. Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project (a) In general For the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary Demonstration Project 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. (b) Coordination In establishing the Demonstration Project, the Secretary shall coordinate with stakeholders such as— (1) State Medicaid programs; (2) maternity care providers and organizations representing maternity care providers; (3) relevant organizations representing patients, with a particular focus on patients from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; (4) relevant community-based organizations, particularly organizations that seek to improve maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; (5) perinatal health workers; (6) relevant health insurance issuers; (7) hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, freestanding birth centers (as such term is defined in paragraph (3)(B) of section 1905(l) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(l) 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa) (8) researchers and policy experts in fields related to maternity care payment models; and (9) any other stakeholders as the Secretary determines appropriate, with a particular focus on stakeholders from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes. (c) Considerations In establishing the Demonstration Project, the Secretary shall consider any alternative payment model that— (1) is designed to improve maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; (2) includes methods for stratifying patients by pregnancy risk level and, as appropriate, adjusting payments under such model to take into account pregnancy risk level, including consideration of the appropriate transfer of patients by pregnancy risk level; (3) establishes evidence-based quality metrics for such payments; (4) includes consideration of nonhospital birth settings such as freestanding birth centers (as so defined); (5) includes consideration of social determinants of maternal health; (6) includes diverse maternity care teams that include— (A) maternity care providers, mental and behavioral health care providers acting in accordance with State law, and registered dietitians or nutrition professionals (as such term is defined in section 1395x(vv)(2) of title 42, United States Code)— (i) from racially, ethnically, and professionally diverse backgrounds; (ii) with experience practicing in racially and ethnically diverse communities; or (iii) who have undergone training on implicit bias and racism; and (B) perinatal health workers; or (7) includes consideration of maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders. (d) Eligibility To be eligible to participate in the Demonstration Project, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Evaluation The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the Demonstration Project to determine the impact of the Demonstration Project on— (1) maternal health outcomes, with data stratified by race, ethnicity, primary language, socioeconomic status, geography, insurance type, and other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate; (2) spending on maternity care by States participating in the Demonstration Project; (3) to the extent practicable, qualitative and quantitative measures of patient experience; and (4) any other areas of assessment that the Secretary determines relevant. (f) Report Not later than one year after the completion or termination date of the Demonstration Project, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make publicly available, a report containing— (1) the results of any evaluation conducted under subsection (e); and (2) a recommendation regarding whether the Demonstration Project should be continued after fiscal year 2028 and expanded on a national basis. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Alternative payment model The term alternative payment model 42 U.S.C. 1395l(z)(3)(C) (2) Maternal mortality The term maternal mortality (2) Maternity care provider The term maternity care provider (A) is a physician, a physician assistant, a midwife who meets, at a minimum, the international definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as established 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. (3) Perinatal The term perinatal (4) Perinatal health worker The term perinatal health worker (5) Postpartum and postpartum period The terms postpartum postpartum period (9) Severe maternal morbidity The term severe maternal morbidity (10) Social determinants of maternal health The term social determinants of maternal health (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

Summary: Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To Save Moms Act or the IMPACT to Save Moms Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a demonstration program to test alternative payment models under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for maternity care. The CMS may consider payment models that include or are designed to address certain areas, such as improved maternal health outcomes for at-risk demographic groups, consideration of social determinants of health, or incorporation of diverse maternity care teams or settings. The CMS must evaluate the program's impact on maternal health outcomes, spending, patient experience, and other relevant areas.