42 U.S.C. § 247b–12 (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 247b–12. Safe motherhood
(a) Surveillance
(1) Purpose
The purposes of this subsection are to establish or continue a Federal initiative to support State and tribal maternal mortality review committees, to improve data collection and reporting around maternal mortality, and to develop or support surveillance systems at the local, State, and national level to better understand the burden of maternal complications and mortality and to decrease the disparities among populations at risk of death and severe complications from pregnancy.
(2) Activities
For the purpose described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may carry out the following activities:
(A) The Secretary may continue and improve activities related to a national maternal mortality data collection and surveillance program to identify and support the review of pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths that occur during, or within 1 year following, pregnancy, including improving disaggregation of data (in a manner consistent with applicable State and Federal privacy laws).
(B) The Secretary may expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and collect data in each State.
(C) The Secretary may expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each State.
(D) The Secretary may, in cooperation with States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations, develop a program to support States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations in establishing or operating maternal mortality review committees, in accordance with subsection (d).
(b) Prevention research
(1) Purpose
The purpose of this subsection is to provide the Secretary with the authority to further expand research concerning risk factors, prevention strategies, and the roles of the family, health care providers and the community in safe motherhood.
(2) Research
The Secretary may carry out activities to expand research relating to—
(A) prepregnancy counseling, especially for at risk populations such as women with diabetes and women with substance use disorder;
(B) the identification of critical components of prenatal delivery and postpartum care;
(C) the identification of outreach and support services, such as folic acid education, that are available for pregnant women;
(D) the identification of women who are at high risk for complications;
(E) preventing preterm delivery;
(F) preventing urinary tract infections;
(G) preventing unnecessary caesarean sections;
(H) the identification of the determinants of disparities in maternal care, health risks, and health outcomes, including an examination of the higher rates of maternal mortality among African American women and other groups of women with disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality;
(I) activities to reduce disparities in maternity services and outcomes;
(J) an examination of the relationship between interpersonal violence and maternal complications and mortality;
(K) preventing and reducing adverse health consequences that may result from smoking and substance abuse and misuse before, during and after pregnancy;
(L) preventing infections that cause maternal and infant complications;
(M) an examination of the relationship between maternal health and obstetric services in rural areas and outcomes in delivery and postpartum care; and
(N) other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(c) Prevention programs
The Secretary may carry out activities to promote safe motherhood, including—
(1) public education campaigns on healthy pregnancies;
(2) education programs for physicians, nurses and other health care providers;
(3) activities to promote community support services for pregnant women; and
(4) activities to promote physical, mental, and behavioral health during, and up to 1 year following, pregnancy, with an emphasis on prevention of, and treatment for, mental health disorders and substance use disorder.
(d) Maternal mortality review committees
(1) In general
In order to participate in the program under subsection (a)(2)(D), the applicable maternal mortality review committee of the State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization shall—
(A) include multidisciplinary and diverse membership that represents a variety of clinical specialties (including obstetricians and gynecologists), State, tribal, or local public health officials, epidemiologists, statisticians, community organizations, geographic regions within the area covered by such committee, and individuals or organizations that represent the populations in the area covered by such committee that are most affected by pregnancy-related deaths or pregnancy-associated deaths and lack of access to maternal health care services; and
(B) demonstrate to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that such maternal mortality review committee’s methods and processes for data collection and review, as required under paragraph (3), use best practices to reliably determine and include all pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy.
(2) Process for confidential reporting
States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations that participate in the program described in this subsection shall, through the State maternal mortality review committee, develop a process that—
(A) provides for confidential case reporting of pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths to the appropriate State or tribal health agency, including such reporting by—
(i) health care professionals;
(ii) health care facilities;
(iii) any individual responsible for completing death records, including medical examiners and medical coroners; and
(iv) other appropriate individuals or entities; and
(B) provides for voluntary and confidential case reporting of pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths to the appropriate State or tribal health agency by family members of the deceased, and other appropriate individuals, for purposes of review by the applicable maternal mortality review committee; and
(C) shall include—
(i) making publicly available contact information of the committee for use in such reporting; and
(ii) conducting outreach to local professional organizations, community organizations, and social services agencies regarding the availability of the review committee.
(3) Data collection and review
States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations that participate in the program described in this subsection shall—
(A) annually identify pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths—
(i) through the appropriate vital statistics unit by—
(I) matching each death record related to a pregnancy-associated death or pregnancy-related death in the State or tribal area in the applicable year to a birth certificate of an infant or fetal death record, if available;
(II) to the extent practicable, identifying an underlying or contributing cause of each pregnancy-associated death and each pregnancy-related death in the State or tribal area in the applicable year; and
(III) collecting data from medical examiner and coroner reports and coordinating with individuals responsible for certifying deaths to improve the collection and quality of death record reports, including by amending errors and missing or incomplete information to cause-of-death information on a death certificate, as appropriate;
(ii) using other appropriate methods or information to identify pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths, including deaths from pregnancy outcomes not identified through clause (i)(I);
(B) through the maternal mortality review committee, review data and information to identify adverse outcomes that may contribute to pregnancy-associated death and pregnancy-related death, and to identify trends, patterns, and disparities in such adverse outcomes to allow the State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization to make recommendations to individuals and entities described in paragraph (2)(A), as appropriate, to improve maternal care and reduce pregnancy-associated death and pregnancy-related death;
(C) identify training available to the individuals and entities described in paragraph (2)(A) for accurate identification and reporting of pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related deaths;
(D) ensure that, to the extent practicable, the data collected and reported under this paragraph is in a format that allows for analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(E) publicly identify the methods used to identify pregnancy-associated deaths and pregnancy-related deaths in accordance with this section.
(4) Confidentiality
States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations participating in the program described in this subsection shall establish confidentiality protections to ensure, at a minimum, that—
(A) there is no disclosure by the maternal mortality review committee, including any individual members of the committee, to any person, including any government official, of any identifying information about any specific maternal mortality case; and
(B) no information from committee proceedings, including deliberation or records, is made public unless specifically authorized under State and Federal law.
(5) Reports to CDC
For fiscal year 2019, and each subsequent fiscal year, each maternal mortality review committee participating in the program described in this subsection shall submit to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a report that includes—
(A) data, findings, and any recommendations of such committee; and
(B) as applicable, information on the implementation during such year of any recommendations submitted by the committee in a previous year.
(6) State partnerships
States may partner with one or more neighboring States to carry out the activities under this subparagraph. With respect to the States in such a partnership, any requirement under this subparagraph relating to the reporting of information related to such activities shall be deemed to be fulfilled by each such State if a single such report is submitted for the partnership.
(7) Appropriate mechanisms for Indian tribes and tribal organizations
The Secretary, in consultation with Indian tribes, shall identify and establish appropriate mechanisms for Indian tribes and tribal organizations to demonstrate, report data, and conduct the activities as required for participation in the program described in this subsection. Such mechanisms may include technical assistance with respect to grant application and submission procedures, and award management activities.
(8) Research availability
The Secretary shall develop a process to ensure that data collected under paragraph (5) is made available, as appropriate and practicable, for research purposes, in a manner that protects individually identifiable or potentially identifiable information and that is consistent with State and Federal privacy law.
(e) Best practices relating to the prevention of maternal mortality
(1) In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, identify and disseminate to health care providers, relevant professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives, best practices related to preventing maternal morbidity and mortality, taking into consideration any relevant findings from other Federal maternal health programs.
(2) Frequency
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall disseminate the best practices referred to in paragraph (1) not less than once per fiscal year.
(f) Definitions
In this section—
(1) the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” have the meanings given such terms in section 5304 of title 25;
(2) the term “pregnancy-associated death” means a death of a woman, by any cause, that occurs during, or within 1 year following, her pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, duration, or site of the pregnancy; and
(3) the term “pregnancy-related death” means a death of a woman that occurs during, or within 1 year following, her pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, duration, or site of the pregnancy—
(A) from any cause related to, or aggravated by, the pregnancy or its management; and
(B) not from accidental or incidental causes.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 317K, as added Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title IX, § 901, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1125; amended Pub. L. 115–344, § 2, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5047; Pub. L. 117–103, div. P, title I, § 141(c), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 798; Pub. L. 119–75, div. J, title V, § 6501, Feb. 3, 2026, 140 Stat. 689.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Amendments
text: 2026—Subsec. (d)(1)(A). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6501(a)(1), inserted “(including obstetricians and gynecologists)” after “clinical specialties”.
Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(i)(I). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6501(a)(2)(A), substituted “if available” for “as applicable”.
Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(i)(III). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6501(a)(2)(B), substituted “and coordinating with individuals responsible for certifying deaths to improve the collection and quality of death record reports, including by amending errors and missing or incomplete information to cause-of-death information on a death certificate, as appropriate” for “, as appropriate”.
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6501(b), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6501(b)(1), (c), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g) and substituted “$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030” for “$58,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023”.
2022—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 117–103, § 141(c)(1), inserted before period at end “, including improving disaggregation of data (in a manner consistent with applicable State and Federal privacy laws)”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(M), (N). Pub. L. 117–103, § 141(c)(2), added subpar. (M) and redesignated former subpar. (M) as (N).
2018—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(1)(A), substituted “purposes of this subsection are to establish or continue a Federal initiative to support State and tribal maternal mortality review committees, to improve data collection and reporting around maternal mortality, and to develop or support” for “purpose of this subsection is to develop” and “populations at risk of death and severe” for “population at risk of death and”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(1)(B)(i), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: “The Secretary may establish and implement a national surveillance program to identify and promote the investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur during pregnancy.”
Subsec. (a)(2)(D). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(1)(B)(ii), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(A), substituted “prepregnancy” for “encouraging preconception” and “women with diabetes and women with substance use disorder” for “diabetics”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(H). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(B), inserted “the identification of the determinants of disparities in maternal care, health risks, and health outcomes, including” before “an examination” and “and other groups of women with disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality” before semicolon at end.
Subsec. (b)(2)(I). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(E), added subpar. (I). Former subpar. (I) redesignated (J).
Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(C), substituted “interpersonal” for “domestic”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(J). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(D), redesignated subpar. (I) as (J). Former subpar. (J) redesignated (K).
Subsec. (b)(2)(K). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(D), (F), redesignated subpar. (J) as (K) and substituted “and substance abuse and misuse” for “, alcohol and illegal drug use”. Former subpar. (K) redesignated (L).
Subsec. (b)(2)(L), (M). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(2)(D), redesignated subpars. (K) and (L) as (L) and (M), respectively.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(3)(A), (B), struck out par. (1) designation and heading “In general” before “The Secretary” and redesignated subpars. (A) to (C) of former par. (1) as pars. (1) to (3), respectively. Amendment was executed to reflect the probable intent of Congress notwithstanding minor error in quoted par. (1) heading in original text directed to be struck out.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(3)(C), struck out “and the building of partnerships with outside organizations concerned about safe motherhood” after “pregnancies”.
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(3)(D)–(F), added par. (4).
Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(5), added subsecs. (d) and (e). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–344, § 2(4), (6), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f) and substituted “$58,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023” for “such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005”.