This bill would aim to grow and diversify the perinatal and maternal health workforce. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance to states about using diverse, multidisciplinary care teams and respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care. The bill requires a study by the National Institutes of Health on best practices for respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care, with a public report due within 2 years.
The bill creates two new grant programs. One (new section 758) would fund schools and programs to train physician assistants, perinatal health workers, and midwives who meet international midwifery standards. The other (new section 812) would fund schools of nursing to provide scholarships for nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists with a maternal or perinatal focus. Grants may last up to 5 years. Both grant programs set priorities for recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups, placing graduates in shortage areas, and including bias and racism training in curricula. Recipients must report annually on student numbers, demographics, and practice locations. HHS must provide technical assistance and must report to Congress on program effectiveness within 4 years.
The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress within 2 years and every 5 years after that on barriers to maternal health education and access to care, including assessments and recommendations related to midwifery and other maternity careers. The bill includes definitions for terms such as culturally and linguistically congruent, maternity care provider, perinatal health worker, postpartum, and racial and ethnic minority group.
If enacted, the bill would aim to expand training and scholarship opportunities for people entering maternity and perinatal care jobs. It would encourage schools and employers to recruit more students and staff from racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse backgrounds and to add training on bias and racism. The bill would promote adding midwives, perinatal health workers, nurses, and other team members to maternity care settings and support placements in areas with fewer providers.
The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 for the perinatal workforce grants (section 758). It also authorizes $15,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 for the perinatal nursing workforce grants (section 812). No publicly available information about other estimated federal costs for HHS guidance, the NIH study, GAO reports, or administrative expenses is provided in the bill text.
According to the bill text, supporters want to increase the number and diversity of maternity and perinatal providers, encourage culturally and linguistically congruent care, reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, and place more trained providers in shortage areas. The bill also emphasizes training on implicit bias and racism and support for accredited midwifery education meeting international standards.
No publicly available information.