H.R. 6394: Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2025
This bill, known as the Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2025, aims to enhance maternity care in the United States by addressing shortages in midwifery and nurse-midwifery education. It includes several key provisions:
Funding and Grants for Midwifery Programs
The bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to institutions of higher education to:
- Support students enrolled in accredited midwifery schools or programs.
- Establish or expand accredited midwifery schools or programs.
- Increase the number of qualified instructors (preceptors) for these midwifery programs.
Grants will prioritize institutions that focus on training students to work in areas with health professional shortages, particularly those that recruit and retain students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities.
Funding Amounts
The bill proposes an appropriation of $15 million for midwifery education from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with a breakdown of funding allocation as follows:
- 50% for direct student support
- 25% for establishment or expansion of programs
- 25% for increasing the number of qualified instructors
Nurse-Midwifery Expansion Program
In addition to supporting midwifery programs, the bill creates funding for nurse-midwifery education, again allowing for grants to schools of nursing for:
- Direct support of students in accredited nurse-midwifery programs.
- Establishment or expansion of these programs.
- Increasing the number of preceptors in clinical training sites.
Similar to the midwifery grants, priority will be given to nursing schools that focus on education for students intending to practice in health professional shortage areas and that engage in strategies to support rural and disadvantaged students.
Funding Amounts for Nurse-Midwifery
The proposed funding for nurse-midwifery education is $20 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with a similar allocation strategy:
- 50% for student support
- 25% for program establishment or expansion
- 25% for increasing preceptor availability
Definitions and Restrictions
The bill clarifies definitions related to midwifery education and specifies that no funding will be given to midwifery programs that operate within nursing schools, aiming to ensure a distinct focus on midwifery education.
Overall Objectives
The overarching goal of this legislation is to improve maternity care outcomes by increasing the number of trained midwives and nurse-midwives, thereby addressing healthcare provider shortages in critical areas.
Relevant Companies
- UNH (UnitedHealth Group): As a major healthcare provider, this legislation could influence their maternity care services and workforce training programs.
- CNC (Centene Corporation): Centene, which provides managed care programs, may need to adapt its maternity services to accommodate increased midwifery practice and training.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
3 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Dec. 03, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Dec. 03, 2025 | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
Corporate Lobbying
0 companies lobbying
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