HR2040-119

What This Bill Does

The NEWBORN Act adds infant mortality pilot grants to the Public Health Service Act. HHS, through the HRSA Administrator, must award grants to eligible county, city, territorial, Tribal, or centralized state health departments to create, implement, and oversee pilot programs for up to five years. HHS must prefer proposals serving the 50 counties or groups of counties with the highest infant mortality rates based on the most recent three years of national data and proposals addressing birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death, maternal pregnancy complications, or infant injuries. Grant activities can include community needs plans, outreach to at-risk mothers, systems improving access and quality for social, educational, and clinical services, infant care and parenting counseling, postpartum care, premature-delivery prevention, smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment, nutrition, physical activity, postpartum depression, domestic violence, social and psychological services, dental care, rural outreach, public education campaigns, coordination with local health departments and existing infant mortality entities, and other strategies in the plan. Grantees may use no more than 10 percent for evaluation and must report annually; HHS uses reports for evaluation and statistical research. The bill authorizes $10 million for each fiscal year 2025 through 2029.

Who Benefits and How

Infants in high-mortality counties benefit from targeted pilot programs focused on preventable causes of infant death. At-risk mothers benefit from outreach, counseling, postpartum care, substance-use treatment, domestic-violence services, and rural care connections. County and Tribal health departments benefit from up to five-year grants to build infant mortality programs. Maternal and child health organizations benefit from coordination with local public health departments and existing service providers.

Who Bears the Burden and How

HRSA must award grants, set preferences, evaluate reports, and conduct statistical research on pilot outcomes. Grantee health departments must design community plans, coordinate providers, limit evaluation spending, and report annually. Federal taxpayers fund the $10 million annual authorization for fiscal years 2025 through 2029. Rural health providers may need to expand outreach and service coordination for at-risk mothers.

Key Provisions

• Creates HRSA infant mortality pilot program grants for eligible local, territorial, Tribal, and state health departments.
• Prioritizes the 50 counties or county groups with the highest infant mortality rates.
• Funds programs addressing birth defects, preterm birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death, maternal complications, and infant injuries.
• Authorizes outreach, clinical and social service coordination, rural programs, public education, and annual reporting.
• Authorizes $10 million for each fiscal year 2025 through 2029.