Sponsors (43)
Official title: To address social determinants of maternal health to eliminate maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 19, 2026 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress March 19, 2026
The bill increases federal coordination, funding, and recognition of nonclinical maternal supports to reduce maternal mortality and address disparities, but it raises costs for taxpayers and states and creates administrative burdens and sustainability risks that may limit full clinical impact and equitable access.
Pregnant and postpartum people nationwide get targeted strategies and definitions that broaden surveillance and could reduce preventable maternal deaths and severe maternal illness (including deaths up to one year after pregnancy).
Pregnant people in high‑risk areas receive nonclinical supports (housing, transportation, nutrition, doulas, peer support) through new programs and recognition of perinatal roles, which can lower risk factors linked to maternal mortality and morbidity.
Community-based organizations and Tribal entities receive dedicated federal funding (about $100M/year FY2027–FY2031) to expand maternal health programs and supports.
Taxpayers and state budgets face increased federal and state spending (including the $100M/year grants) and potential Medicaid cost pressures, which could crowd out other priorities or require offsets.
Federal, state, and local agencies will incur administrative burdens to produce reports, update surveillance and Medicaid policies, and implement coordination efforts, diverting staff time and resources from other work.
Nonclinical grants and supports may not directly address clinical care gaps (medical treatment, access to clinicians), so some maternal health needs could remain unmet without clinical integration.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates an interagency Task Force and a competitive grant program to address social determinants and reduce maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and disparities, with reporting and $100M/yr authorized FY2027–FY2031.
Creates a federal Task Force and a new competitive grant program to reduce preventable maternal deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and racial and other disparities by addressing clinical and nonclinical drivers of maternal health. The Task Force will coordinate federal agencies and stakeholders to produce reports and recommendations; the grant program awards funds to community groups, Tribes, public health departments, and nonprofits to pilot and scale nonclinical interventions such as housing, food access, transportation, environmental risk reduction, childcare for appointments, and domestic violence services.