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H.R. 8811: Moms Matter Act

The Moms Matter Act aims to improve maternal mental health and address substance use disorders among pregnant and postpartum individuals. Here are the key components of the bill:

Maternal Mental Health Equity Grant Program

The bill establishes a grant program overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This program will:

Provide financial support to eligible organizations that work on maternal mental health issues, especially in communities facing higher rates of maternal mortality and health disparities.
Prioritize grants for organizations that partner with community groups and serve areas with significant maternal health challenges.

Entities receiving grants may use the funds for various purposes, including:

Integrating mental health services into primary maternity care.
Expanding group prenatal and postpartum care programs.
Improving mental health support during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Addressing stigma linked to maternal mental health conditions.
Providing education on warning signs of mental health issues and substance use.
Implementing programs to prevent suicide and self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals.

Growing the Maternal Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce

The bill also provides grants to enhance and diversify the maternal mental health care workforce. This includes:

Setting up educational programs for new mental health providers specializing in maternal health.
Expanding existing programs to increase enrollment, including scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds.
Prioritizing applications from programs that focus on serving racial and ethnic minorities and areas with significant health disparities.

Reporting and Accountability

Entities receiving grants must submit annual reports on their activities and outcomes. The Secretary will compile these reports to evaluate the success of the programs funded by the grants and make recommendations for future efforts.

Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes funding of:

$25 million each year from 2027 to 2031 for maternal mental health programs.
$15 million each year from 2027 to 2031 for workforce development programs.

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms, including "eligible entity," "maternal mortality," and "maternity care provider," clarifying which organizations can apply for grants and what constitutes maternal mental health conditions.