HR3305-118

Introduced

To end preventable maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced May 15, 2023

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a comprehensive package to address the maternal mortality crisis, particularly the disproportionate rates of death and complications affecting Black women and other racial/ethnic minorities during and after pregnancy. It creates a coordinated federal task force, funds community-based programs, expands postpartum nutrition support, and invests in diversifying the healthcare workforce.

Who Benefits and How

Community-based organizations serving minority populations receive substantial grant funding ($100M/year each for two major programs). Midwives, doulas, and perinatal health workers gain new training programs and scholarships ($15M/year across multiple workforce grants). Nursing and medical schools focused on maternal health receive expansion funding. Pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups benefit from extended WIC eligibility (24 months vs. 6 months) and culturally competent care programs. Veterans gain dedicated maternity care coordination services ($15M/year).

Who Bears the Burden and How

Hospitals and health systems must establish respectful maternity care compliance programs with reporting requirements for bias incidents. Maternity care providers and staff must undergo periodic training on implicit bias, racism, and cultural competency. Healthcare institutions face new accountability mechanisms for addressing racism in care delivery.

Key Provisions

  • Creates federal task force coordinating 16+ agencies to address maternal mortality
  • Authorizes $100M/year for grants to address social determinants of maternal health
  • Authorizes $100M/year for community-based organizations advancing maternal health equity
  • Extends WIC eligibility for postpartum individuals from 6 months to 24 months
  • Authorizes $45M/year combined for perinatal workforce training grants
  • Requires bias and racism training for all maternity care staff

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Addresses the maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity crisis in the United States, with particular focus on eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Key Policy Areas

Healthcare, Public Health, Social Services, Workforce Development, Veterans Affairs, Nutrition

Primary Purpose

Addresses the maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity crisis in the United States, with particular focus on eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Policy Domains

Healthcare Public Health Social Services Workforce Development Veterans Affairs Nutrition

Title I - Maternal Mortality Task Force and Social Determinants

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Community-based organizations serving minority populations
  • Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
  • Pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Federal agencies coordinating on task force
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title V - Workforce Development and Diversity

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Nursing schools
  • Midwifery education programs
  • Physician assistant programs
  • Students from minority groups
  • Perinatal health worker training programs
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Grant recipients
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title II - WIC Extension

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Postpartum individuals eligible for WIC
  • Infants and children in WIC-eligible families
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Federal WIC program budget
  • State WIC agencies
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title IV - Veterans Affairs Maternity Care

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Veterans receiving VA maternity care
  • VA maternity care coordination programs
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Department of Veterans Affairs
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title III - Community Organizations and Respectful Care

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Community-based organizations
  • Midwifery practices
  • Perinatal health workers
  • Training program providers
  • HBCUs
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Hospitals and health systems
  • Maternity care providers and staff
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: ih

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Legislative Progress

Introduced
Introduced Committee Passed
May 15, 2023

Ms. Underwood (for herself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Allred, …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

Healthcare
39 mentions across 26 clauses
+30 positive -7 negative ?2 uncertain

Accredited midwifery education programs, Community-based organizations addressing maternal mental health, Community-based organizations advancing maternal health equity

Positive-direction: Accredited midwifery education programs, Community-based organizations addressing maternal mental health, Community-based organizations advancing maternal health equity, Community-based organizations consulted on reviews, Community-based organizations partnering on guidance, Community-based organizations providing stakeholder input, Community-based organizations serving maternal health populations, Existing mental health programs expanding maternal specialization, Health profession schools developing climate health curricula, Healthcare facilities in underserved areas implementing digital tools, Healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas, Hospitals and health systems establishing compliance programs, Maternal health providers in professional shortage areas, Maternity care providers under Medicaid, Medical and nursing schools adding environmental health training, Mental health and substance use treatment providers in underserved areas, Midwives, doulas, and perinatal health workers, Organizations serving demographic groups with elevated maternal mortality rates, Perinatal health worker training programs, Physician assistant training programs with maternal health focus, Prenatal and obstetric care providers promoting vaccination, Schools and programs training perinatal workforce, Schools establishing maternal mental health training programs, Students entering perinatal nursing from minority groups, Students from racial/ethnic minority groups entering mental health field, Students from racial/ethnic minority groups entering nursing, Students from racially/ethnically diverse backgrounds, Students seeking midwifery or perinatal health worker certification, Training program providers for maternity care settings, VA healthcare providers and contractors

Negative-direction: Hospitals and health systems (compliance burden), Hospitals and health systems implementing training programs, Hospitals and health systems recruiting diverse providers, Hospitals subject to reporting, Maternity care providers and staff receiving training, Maternity care providers implementing emergency protocols, Maternity care staff required to undergo training

Government
14 mentions across 13 clauses
+4 positive -10 negative

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Bureau of Prisons, CDC Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program

Positive-direction: CDC Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program, CDC immunization and vaccination programs, Department of Veterans Affairs maternity care programs, NIH institutes and centers participating in consortium

Negative-direction: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Bureau of Prisons, CDC and HRSA coordinating task force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal agencies (HHS, HUD, DOT, USDA, EPA, DOL, CMS, CDC, etc.), Government Accountability Office

Healthcare Beneficiaries
8 mentions across 8 clauses
+8 positive

Patients receiving maternity care from racial/ethnic minority groups, Postpartum individuals eligible for WIC, Pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups

State & Local Government
7 mentions across 6 clauses
+4 positive -3 negative

State Medicaid programs implementing telehealth, State Medicaid programs testing alternative payment models, State WIC agencies

Positive-direction: State Medicaid programs implementing telehealth, State Medicaid programs testing alternative payment models, States establishing prison maternal health programs, States with anti-shackling laws for pregnant inmates

Negative-direction: State WIC agencies, State health departments and Medicaid agencies, States without anti-shackling laws for pregnant inmates

Technology
6 mentions across 5 clauses
+5 positive ?1 uncertain

AI health technology developers, Clinical decision support system vendors, Digital health tool developers for maternal care

Education
5 mentions across 4 clauses
+5 positive

Certified nurse-midwife training programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions with health programs, HBCUs with health professions programs

Tribal Nations
5 mentions across 4 clauses
+5 positive

Indian Tribes and Urban Indian organizations, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, Tribal Epidemiology Centers

Research & Science
5 mentions across 5 clauses
+5 positive

Independent research organizations studying tribal health, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Research centers studying maternal health disparities

43/49
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Healthcare
Domains
Public Health Social Services
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Health and Human Services
Domains
Nutrition Healthcare
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture
Domains
Healthcare Public Health
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Health and Human Services
Domains
Veterans Affairs Healthcare
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Domains
Workforce Development Healthcare
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Health and Human Services

Note: The Secretary refers to different cabinet officials depending on title: HHS Secretary in Titles I, III, V; Secretary of Agriculture in Title II (WIC); Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Title IV.

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

6 terms
"maternal mortality" §3a

A death occurring during or within a 1-year period after pregnancy, caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications.

"severe maternal morbidity" §3b

A health condition attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant consequences to the health of the individual.

"maternity care provider" §3c

A physician, physician assistant, midwife, advanced practice registered nurse, or lactation consultant with a focus on maternal or perinatal health.

"perinatal health worker" §3d

A nonclinical health worker focused on maternal or perinatal health, such as a doula, community health worker, or peer supporter.

"postpartum period" §3e

The 1-year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of an individual.

"social determinants of maternal health" §3f

Nonclinical factors that impact maternal health outcomes.

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology