I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8958 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish guidance 
for States on strategies for maternal care providers participating in 
the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity 
with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such pro-
gram. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 14, 2020 
Ms. KELLY of Illinois (for herself, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, 
and Mr. LATTA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to publish guidance for States on strategies for maternal 
care providers participating in the Medicaid program to 
reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with re-
spect to individuals receiving medical assistance under 
such program. 
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 ‘‘Supporting Best Prac-
tices for Healthy Moms Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEVELOPING GUIDANCE ON MATERNAL MOR-
TALITY AND SEVERE MORBIDITY REDUCTION 
FOR MATERNAL CARE PROVIDERS RECEIV-
ING PAYMENT UNDER THE MEDICAID PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, not later than 36 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall publish on a public website of the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance for States on 
resources and strategies for hospitals, freestanding birth 
centers (as defined in section 1905(l)(3)(B) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l)(3)(B))), and other ma-
ternal care providers as determined by the Secretary for 
reducing maternal mortality and severe morbidity in indi-
viduals who are eligible for and receiving medical assist-
ance under the Medicaid program under title XIX of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or child health assistance 
under the Children’s Health Insurance Program under 
title XXI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.). 
(b) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update the guid-
ance and resources described in subsection (a) at least 
once every 3 years. 
(c) CONSULTATION WITH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall establish an advisory committee to be 
known as the ‘‘National Advisory Committee on Re-
ducing Maternal Deaths’’ (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(2) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall 
provide consensus advice and guidance to the Sec-
retary on the development and compilation of the 
guidance described in subsection (a) (and any up-
dates to such guidance). 
(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with such other heads of agencies, as 
the Secretary deems appropriate and in accord-
ance with this paragraph, shall appoint not 
more than 41 members to the Advisory Com-
mittee. In appointing such members, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that— 
(i) the total number of members of 
the Advisory Committee is an odd number; 
and 
(ii) the total number of voting mem-
bers who are not Federal officials does not 
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exceed the total number of voting Federal 
members who are Federal officials. 
(B) REQUIRED MEMBERS.— 
(i) FEDERAL OFFICIALS.—The Advi-
sory Committee shall include as voting 
members the following Federal officials, or 
their designees: 
(I) The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services. 
(II) The Administrator of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services. 
(III) The Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention. 
(IV) The Associate Administrator 
of the Maternal and Child Health Bu-
reau of the Health Resources and 
Services Administration. 
(V) The Director of the Agency 
for Healthcare Research and Quality. 
(VI) The National Coordinator 
for Health Information Technology. 
(VII) The Director of the Na-
tional Institutes of Health. 
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(VIII) The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs. 
(IX) The Director of the Indian 
Health Service. 
(X) The Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary for Minority Health. 
(XI) The Administrator of the 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration. 
(XII) The Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary for Women’s Health. 
(XIII) Such other Federal offi-
cials or their designees as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(ii) NON-FEDERAL OFFICIALS.— 
(I) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory 
Committee shall include the following 
as voting members: 
(aa) At least 1 representa-
tive from a professional organiza-
tion representing hospitals and 
health systems. 
(bb) At least 1 representa-
tive from a medical professional 
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organization 
representing 
pri-
mary care providers. 
(cc) At least 1 representa-
tive from a medical professional 
organization representing general 
obstetrician-gynecologists. 
(dd) At least 1 representa-
tive from a medical professional 
organization 
representing 
cer-
tified nurse-midwives. 
(ee) At least 1 representa-
tive from a medical professional 
organization representing other 
maternal 
fetal 
medicine 
pro-
viders. 
(ff) At least 1 representative 
from a medical professional orga-
nization representing anesthesiol-
ogists. 
(gg) At least 1 representa-
tive from a medical professional 
organization representing emer-
gency medicine physicians and 
urgent care providers. 
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(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report re-
quired under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult 
with the advisory committee established under section 
2(c). 
Æ 
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