I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 937 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to integrate telehealth models 
in maternity care services, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2021 
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. 
KHANNA, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. SMITH of Washington, 
Ms. SCANLON, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, 
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. RYAN, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. 
JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. HORSFORD, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. 
BARRAGA´N, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. 
MOULTON, Mr. SOTO, Mr. NADLER, Mr. TRONE, Ms. CLARKE of New 
York, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. BASS, Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. EVANS, Ms. 
BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SEWELL, and Ms. WIL-
LIAMS of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to integrate 
telehealth models in maternity care services, 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 ‘‘Tech To Save Moms 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 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. 
(2) RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP.— 
The term ‘‘racial and ethnic minority group’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u- 
6(g)(1)). 
(3) 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. 
(4) SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS
OF
MATERNAL 
HEALTH.—The term ‘‘social determinants of mater-
nal health’’ means non-clinical factors that impact 
maternal health outcomes, including— 
(A) economic factors, which may include 
poverty, employment, food security, support for 
and access to lactation and other infant feeding 
options, housing stability, and related factors; 
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(B) neighborhood factors, which may in-
clude quality of housing, access to transpor-
tation, access to child care, availability of 
healthy foods and nutrition counseling, avail-
ability of clean water, air and water quality, 
ambient temperatures, neighborhood crime and 
violence, access to broadband, and related fac-
tors; 
(C) social and community factors, which 
may include systemic racism, gender discrimi-
nation or discrimination based on other pro-
tected classes, workplace conditions, incarcer-
ation, and related factors; 
(D) household factors, which may include 
ability to conduct lead testing and abatement, 
car seat installation, indoor air temperatures, 
and related factors; 
(E) education access and quality factors, 
which may include educational attainment, lan-
guage and literacy, and related factors; and 
(F) health care access factors, including 
health insurance coverage, access to culturally 
congruent health care services, providers, and 
non-clinical support, access to home visiting 
services, access to wellness and stress manage-
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ment programs, health literacy, access to tele-
health and items required to receive telehealth 
services, and related factors. 
SEC. 3. INTEGRATED TELEHEALTH MODELS IN MATERNITY 
CARE SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a(b)(2)(B)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(xxviii) Focusing on title XIX, pro-
viding for the adoption of and use of tele-
health tools that allow for screening, moni-
toring, and management of common health 
complications with respect to an individual 
receiving medical assistance during such 
individual’s pregnancy and for not more 
than a 1-year period beginning on the last 
day of the pregnancy.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. GRANTS TO EXPAND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY-EN-
ABLED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND CA-
PACITY 
MODELS 
FOR 
PREGNANT 
AND 
POSTPARTUM INDIVIDUALS. 
Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting after section 330M (42 U.S.C. 254c–19) the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 
330N. 
EXPANDING 
CAPACITY 
FOR 
MATERNAL 
HEALTH OUTCOMES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Beginning not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall award grants to eligible entities to evaluate, develop, 
and expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative 
learning and capacity building models and improve mater-
nal health outcomes— 
‘‘(1) in health professional shortage areas; 
‘‘(2) in areas with high rates of maternal mor-
tality and severe maternal morbidity; 
‘‘(3) in areas with significant racial and ethnic 
disparities in maternal health outcomes; and 
‘‘(4) for medically underserved populations and 
American Indians and Alaska Natives, including In-
dian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian 
organizations. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
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‘‘(1) REQUIRED
USES.—Recipients of grants 
under this section shall use the grants to— 
‘‘(A) train maternal health care providers, 
students, 
and 
other 
similar 
professionals 
through models that include— 
‘‘(i) methods to increase safety and 
health care quality; 
‘‘(ii) implicit bias, racism, and dis-
crimination; 
‘‘(iii) best practices in screening for 
and, as needed, evaluating and treating 
maternal mental health conditions and 
substance use disorders; 
‘‘(iv) training on best practices in ma-
ternity care for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals during the COVID–19 public 
health emergency or future public health 
emergencies; 
‘‘(v) methods to screen for social de-
terminants of maternal health risks in the 
prenatal and postpartum; and 
‘‘(vi) the use of remote patient moni-
toring tools for pregnancy-related com-
plications 
described 
in 
section 
1115A(b)(2)(B)(xxviii); 
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‘‘(B) evaluate and collect information on 
the effect of such models on— 
‘‘(i) access to and quality of care; 
‘‘(ii) outcomes with respect to the 
health of an individual; 
‘‘(iii) the experience of individuals who 
receive pregnancy-related health care; 
‘‘(C) develop qualitative and quantitative 
measures to identify best practices for the ex-
pansion and use of such models; 
‘‘(D) study the effect of such models on 
patient outcomes and maternity care providers; 
and 
‘‘(E) conduct any other activity determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) PERMISSIBLE USES.—Recipients of grants 
under this section may use grants to support— 
‘‘(A) the use and expansion of technology- 
enabled collaborative learning and capacity 
building models, including hardware and soft-
ware that— 
‘‘(i) enables distance learning and 
technical support; and 
‘‘(ii) supports the secure exchange of 
electronic health information; and 
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‘‘(B) maternity care providers, students, 
and other similar professionals in the provision 
of maternity care through such models. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application, at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(2) ASSURANCE.—An application under para-
graph (1) shall include an assurance that such entity 
shall collect information on and assess the effect of 
the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning 
and capacity building models, including with respect 
to— 
‘‘(A) maternal health outcomes; 
‘‘(B) access to maternal health care serv-
ices; 
‘‘(C) quality of maternal health care; and 
‘‘(D) retention of maternity care providers 
serving areas and populations described in sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS.— 
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‘‘(1) NUMBER.—The Secretary may not award 
more than 1 grant under this section to an eligible 
entity. 
‘‘(2) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this 
section shall be for a 5-year period. 
‘‘(e) ACCESS
TO BROADBAND.—In administering 
grants under this section, the Secretary may coordinate 
with other agencies to ensure that funding opportunities 
are available to support access to reliable, high-speed 
internet for grantees. 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide (either directly or by contract) technical assistance 
to eligible entities, including recipients of grants under 
subsection (a), on the development, use, and sustainability 
of technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity 
building models to expand access to maternal health care 
services provided by such entities, including— 
‘‘(1) in health professional shortage areas; 
‘‘(2) in areas with high rates of maternal mor-
tality and severe maternal morbidity or significant 
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health out-
comes; and 
‘‘(3) for medically underserved populations or 
American Indians and Alaska Natives. 
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‘‘(g) RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.—The Secretary, 
in consultation with experts, shall develop a strategic plan 
to research and evaluate the evidence for such models. 
‘‘(h) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall sub-
mit to the Secretary a report, at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Congress, and make available on 
the website of the Department of Health and 
Human Services, a report that includes— 
‘‘(A) a description of grants awarded 
under subsection (a) and the purpose and 
amounts of such grants; 
‘‘(B) a summary of— 
‘‘(i) the evaluations conducted under 
subsection (b)(B); 
‘‘(ii) any technical assistance provided 
under subsection (g); and 
‘‘(iii) the activities conducted under 
subsection (a); and 
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‘‘(C) a description of any significant find-
ings with respect to— 
‘‘(i) patient outcomes; and 
‘‘(ii) best practices for expanding, 
using, or evaluating technology-enabled col-
laborative learning and capacity building 
models. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means an entity that provides, or supports 
the provision of, maternal health care services 
or other evidence-based services for pregnant 
and postpartum individuals— 
‘‘(i) in health professional shortage 
areas; 
‘‘(ii) in areas with high rates of ad-
verse maternal health outcomes or signifi-
cant racial and ethnic disparities in mater-
nal health outcomes; or 
‘‘(iii) who are— 
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‘‘(I) members of medically under-
served populations; or 
‘‘(II) American Indians and Alas-
ka Natives, including Indian Tribes, 
Tribal organizations, and urban In-
dian organizations. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—An eligible entity may 
include entities that lead, or are capable of 
leading a technology-enabled collaborative learn-
ing and capacity building model. 
‘‘(2) 
HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
SHORTAGE 
AREA.—The term ‘health professional shortage area’ 
means a health professional shortage area des-
ignated under section 332. 
‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act. 
‘‘(4) MATERNAL MORTALITY.—The term ‘ma-
ternal mortality’ means a death occurring during or 
within 1-year period after pregnancy caused by preg-
nancy-related or childbirth complications, including a 
suicide, overdose, or other death resulting from a 
mental health or substance use disorder attributed 
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to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth com-
plications. 
‘‘(5) 
MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED
POPU-
LATION.—The term ‘medically underserved popu-
lation’ has the meaning given such term in section 
330(b)(3). 
‘‘(6) POSTPARTUM.—The term ‘postpartum’ 
means the 1-year period beginning on the last date 
of an individual’s pregnancy. 
‘‘(7) SEVERE
MATERNAL
MORBIDITY.—The 
term ‘severe maternal morbidity’ means a health 
condition, including a mental health or substance 
use disorder, attributed to or aggravated by preg-
nancy or childbirth that results in significant short- 
term or long-term consequences to the health of the 
individual who was pregnant. 
‘‘(8) TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED
COLLABORATIVE 
LEARNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING MODEL.—The 
term ‘technology-enabled collaborative learning and 
capacity building model’ means a distance health 
education model that connects health care profes-
sionals, and other specialists, through simultaneous 
interactive videoconferencing for the purpose of fa-
cilitating case-based learning, disseminating best 
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practices, and evaluating outcomes in the context of 
maternal health care. 
‘‘(9) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘Tribal 
organization’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act. 
‘‘(10) URBAN
INDIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘urban Indian organization’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 4 of the Indian Health 
Care Improvement Act.’’. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO PROMOTE EQUITY IN MATERNAL 
HEALTH 
OUTCOMES 
THROUGH 
DIGITAL 
TOOLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall make grants to eligi-
ble entities to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in ma-
ternal health outcomes by increasing access to digital tools 
related to maternal health care. 
(b) APPLICATIONS.—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-
quire. 
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(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall prioritize an eligible entity— 
(1) in an area with high rates of adverse mater-
nal health outcomes or significant racial and ethnic 
disparities in maternal health outcomes; 
(2) in a health professional shortage area des-
ignated under section 332 of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 254e); and 
(3) that promotes technology that addresses ra-
cial and ethnic disparities in maternal health out-
comes. 
(d) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) NUMBER.—The Secretary may award not 
more than 1 grant under this section to an eligible 
entity. 
(2) DURATION.—A grant awarded under this 
section shall be for a 5-year period. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide technical assistance to an eligible entity on the de-
velopment, use, evaluation, and post-grant sustainability 
of digital tools for purposes of promoting equity in mater-
nal health outcomes. 
(f) REPORTING.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall sub-
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mit to the Secretary a report, at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report that includes— 
(A) an evaluation on the effectiveness of 
grants awarded under this section to improve 
health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals from racial and ethnic minority 
groups; 
(B) recommendations on new grant pro-
grams that promote the use of technology to 
improve such maternal health outcomes; and 
(C) recommendations with respect to— 
(i) technology-based privacy and secu-
rity safeguards in maternal health care; 
(ii) reimbursement rates for maternal 
telehealth services; 
(iii) the use of digital tools to analyze 
large data sets to identify potential preg-
nancy-related complications; 
(iv) barriers that prevent maternity 
care providers from providing telehealth 
services across States; 
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(v) the use of consumer digital tools 
such as mobile phone applications, patient 
portals, and wearable technologies to im-
prove maternal health outcomes; 
(vi) barriers that prevent access to 
telehealth services, including a lack of ac-
cess to reliable, high-speed internet or elec-
tronic devices; 
(vii) barriers to data sharing between 
the Special Supplemental Nutrition Pro-
gram for Women, Infants, and Children 
program and maternity care providers, and 
recommendations for addressing such bar-
riers; and 
(viii) lessons learned from expanded 
access to telehealth related to maternity 
care during the COVID–19 public health 
emergency. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
SEC. 6. REPORT ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MATER-
NITY CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
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Human Services shall seek to enter an agreement with the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi-
cine (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘National Academies’’) 
under which the National Academies shall conduct a study 
on the use of technology and patient monitoring devices 
in maternity care. 
(b) CONTENT.—The agreement entered into pursu-
ant to subsection (a) shall provide for the study of the 
following: 
(1) The use of innovative technology (including 
artificial intelligence) in maternal health care, in-
cluding the extent to which such technology has af-
fected racial or ethnic biases in maternal health 
care. 
(2) The use of patient monitoring devices (in-
cluding pulse oximeter devices) in maternal health 
care, including the extent to which such devices have 
affected racial or ethnic biases in maternal health 
care. 
(3) Best practices for reducing and preventing 
racial or ethnic biases in the use of innovative tech-
nology and patient monitoring devices in maternity 
care. 
(4) Best practices in the use of innovative tech-
nology and patient monitoring devices for pregnant 
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and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic 
minority groups. 
(5) Best practices with respect to privacy and 
security safeguards in such use. 
(c) REPORT.—The agreement under subsection (a) 
shall direct the National Academies to complete the study 
under this section, and transmit to Congress a report on 
the results of the study, not later than 24 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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