S. 5449: Mothers and Newborns Success Act

This bill would direct the federal government to continue and expand several grant programs aimed at improving maternal and infant health, especially in places and communities with worse outcomes.

What the bill is trying to do

The bill says the United States should reduce maternal and infant deaths, improve care before, during, and after pregnancy, and address racial, ethnic, and geographic gaps in outcomes. It also includes a Senate statement of support for evidence-based policies to improve maternal and newborn health.

Main program changes

• State maternal health innovation grants: The bill would continue federal grants for states, tribes, and nonprofit partners to test ways to improve maternal health. These grants could be used to create task forces, improve data collection, address provider shortages, reduce bias in care, and support postpartum care. The bill authorizes $53 million per year from 2027 through 2030.
• Safe motherhood grants: The bill would expand grants to help classify birthing facilities by the level of maternal and neonatal care they provide, so patients can be directed to the right level of care. It also creates a grant program for improving the accuracy of pregnancy information on death certificates, which is used in maternal death tracking. Related funding is extended through 2031.
• Pregnancy risk assessment monitoring: The bill would allow CDC to continue or expand data collection on women’s experiences before, during, and after pregnancy, and to support states and tribes in improving the quality and representativeness of the data.
• Postpartum care coordination pilot: The bill would create a pilot program for up to 10 entities to identify and spread best practices for postpartum care during the year after birth, including care for chronic conditions, mental health, and coordination between maternity and primary care providers. It authorizes $5 million per year from 2027 through 2031.
• Maternal health research network: The bill would create a National Maternal Health Research Network within NIH to support research on the causes of maternal mortality and severe complications, and on possible treatments and care models. It authorizes $50 million per year from 2027 through 2031.
• Rural telehealth demonstration program: The bill would continue the RMOMS program to improve maternal and obstetric care in rural areas, including through telehealth and regional coordination among providers. It authorizes $12 million per year from 2027 through 2029.
• Public/provider awareness campaign: The bill would fund a national campaign to inform pregnant women, families, and health providers about maternal warning signs and the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for pregnant women and children. It authorizes $2 million per year from 2027 through 2031.

Reporting requirements

The bill would require several reports to Congress on how these programs are working, including reports due in 2029, 2030, and 2031 depending on the program.

Funding

Overall, the bill authorizes federal spending for these programs, but the money would still need to be appropriated in future budget laws before it could actually be spent.

Relevant Companies

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