Description:
S. 1675 would establish or continue grant programs to improve the quality of maternal health care, fund perinatal quality collaboratives, and require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undertake certain reporting and other administrative activities. The Innovation for Maternal Health competitive grants program would establish or continue efforts to identify, develop, or disseminate best practices to improve maternal health care quality and outcomes; improve maternal and infant health; and eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity. Funds also could support collaborations with state maternal mortality review committees; technical assistance to support the implementation of best practices; and the identification, development, and evaluation of new models of care. S. 1675 would authorize $9 million annually over the 2022-2026 period for the program. Based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that the program would cost $38 million over the 2021-2026 period; the remaining amount would be spent after 2026. The Training for Health Care Providers program would award grants to training programs to improve prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care for racial and ethnic minority populations. S. 1675 would authorize $5 million annually over the 2022-2026 period for that program. Based on historical spending patterns for similar activities, CBO estimates that the training grants would cost $21 million over the 2021-2026 period; the remaining amount would be spent after 2026.
