,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fadc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,kennedy 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,underwood1 ,mr4 ,katko1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,mr4 ,long1 and ,mr4 ,moulton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act to improve maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes with a particular focus on outcomes for minority women1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,moms ,maternal and ,behavioral ,health ,screening ,access1 ,treatment1 and ,task ,force to ,expand ,innovative ,models to ,reduce ,maternal ,mortality and ,severe ,maternal ,morbidity ,act of #bjbj or the ,moms ,,matter ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,innovative models ,to reduce maternal mortality ,title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bda et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new part3 ,w ,innovative models to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity #cii,,oo4 ,definitions ,in this part3 7#a7 ,the terms postpartum and postpartum period refer to the #a-year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy4 7#b7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#c7 ,the term ,task ,force means the ,maternal ,mental and ,behavioral ,health ,task ,force established pursuant to section #cii,,oo-#a4 7#d7 ,the term behavioral health includes substance use disorder and other behavioral health conditions4 #cii,,oo-#a4 ,maternal ,mental and ,behavioral ,health ,task ,force 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a task force1 to be known as the ,maternal ,mental and ,behavioral ,health ,task ,force1 to improve maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes with a particular focus on outcomes for minority women4 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,composition ,the ,task ,force shall be composed of no fewer than #bj members1 to be appointed by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,co-chairs ,the ,secretary shall designate #b members of the ,task ,force to serve as the ,co-chairs of the ,task ,force4 7#c7 ,members ,the ,task ,force shall include the following3 7,a7 ,maternal mental and behavioral health care specialists2 maternity care providers2 and researchers1 government officials1 and policy experts who specialize in women's health1 maternal mental and behavioral health1 maternal substance use disorder1 or maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity4 ,in selecting such members of the ,task ,force1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds or individuals with experience providing culturally congruent maternity care in diverse communities4 7,b7 ,one or more patients who have suffered from a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition during the prenatal or postpartum period1 or a spouse or family member of such patient4 7,c7 ,one or more representatives of a community-based organization that addresses adverse maternal health outcomes with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 ,in selecting such representatives1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to organizations from communities with significant minority populations4 7,d7 ,one or more perinatal health workers who provide non-clinical support to pregnant and postpartum women1 such as a doula1 community health worker1 peer supporter1 certified lactation consultant1 nutritionist or dietitian1 social worker1 home visitor1 or navigator4 ,in selecting such perinatal health workers1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to individuals with experience working in communities with significant minority populations4 7,e7 ,one or more representatives of relevant patient advocacy organizations1 with a particular focus on organizations that address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 7,f7 ,one or more representatives of relevant health care provider organizations1 with a particular focus on organizations that address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 7,g7 ,one or more leaders of a ,federally qualified health center or rural health clinic 7as such terms are defined in section #ahfa of the ,social ,security ,act74 7,h7 ,one or more representatives of health insurers4 7#d7 ,timing of appointments ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this part1 the ,secretary shall appoint all members of the ,task ,force4 7#e7 ,period of appointment2 vacancies 7,a7 ,in general ,each member of the ,task ,force shall be appointed for the life of the ,task ,force4 7,b7 ,vacancies ,any vacancy in the ,task ,force-- 7i7 shall not affect the powers of the ,task ,force2 and 7ii7 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7#f7 ,no pay ,members of the ,task ,force 7other than officers or employees of the ,united ,states7 shall serve without pay4 ,members of the ,task ,force who are full-time officers or employees of the ,united ,states may not receive additional pay1 allowances1 or benefits by reason of their service on the ,task ,force4 7#g7 ,travel expenses ,members of the ,task ,force may be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the ,task ,force4 7c7 ,staff ,the ,co-chairs of the ,task ,force may appoint and fix the pay of staff to the ,task ,force4 7d7 ,detailees ,any ,federal ,government employee may be detailed to the ,task ,force without reimbursement from the ,task ,force1 and the detailee shall retain the rights1 status1 and privileges of his or her regular employment without interruption4 7e7 ,meetings 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,task ,force shall meet at the call of the ,co-chairs of the ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,initial meeting ,the ,task ,force shall meet not later than #cj days after the date on which all members of the ,task ,force have been appointed4 7#c7 ,quorum ,a majority of the members of the ,task ,force shall constitute a quorum4 7f7 ,information from ,federal ,agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,task ,force may secure directly from any ,federal department or agency such information as may be relevant to carrying out this part4 7#b7 ,furnishing information ,on request of the ,co-chairs of the ,task ,force pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the head of a ,federal department or agency shall1 not later than #fj days after the date of receiving such request1 furnish to the ,task ,force the information so requested4 7g7 ,termination ,termination under section #ad of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,task ,force4 7h7 ,duties 7#a7 ,national strategy ,the ,task ,force shall make recommendations for a national strategy to improve maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes with a particular focus on outcomes for minority women4 ,such strategy shall-- 7,a7 define collaborative maternity care2 7,b7 make recommendations to the ,secretary and the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use on how to implement collaborative maternity care models to improve maternal mental and behavioral health with a particular focus on such outcomes for minority women2 7,c7 identify barriers to the implementation of collaborative maternity care models to improve maternal mental and behavioral health with a particular focus on such outcomes for minority women1 and make recommendations to address such barriers2 7,d7 take into consideration as models existing ,state and other programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in improving maternal mental and behavioral health during the prenatal and postpartum periods2 7,e7 promote treatment options and reduce stigma for pregnant and postpartum women with a substance use disorder2 7,f7 assess the extent to which insurers are providing coverage for evidence-based mental and behavioral health screenings and services that adhere to existing prenatal and postpartum guidelines2 7,g7 assess the extent to which existing guidelines and processes are culturally congruent for minority women1 specifically-- 7i7 guidelines for identifying maternal mental and behavioral health conditions1 including substance use disorders2 7ii7 guidelines for screening and1 as needed1 follow-up referrals1 evaluations1 and treatments after positive screens for-- 7,i7 depression2 7,,ii7 anxiety2 7,,iii7 trauma2 7,,iv7 substance use disorders2 and 7,v7 other mental or behavioral health conditions at the discretion of the ,task ,force2 7iii7 processes for incorporating mental and behavioral health screenings into the current timeline of standard screening practices for pregnant and postpartum women1 with distinctions for postpartum screening timelines for uncomplicated and complicated births2 and 7iv7 processes for referring women with positive screens for substance use disorder to addiction treatment centers offering-- 7,i7 on-site wraparound treatment or networks for referrals2 7,,ii7 multidisciplinary staff2 7,,iii7 psychotherapy2 7,,iv7 contingency management2 7,v7 access to all evidence-based medication-assisted treatment2 and 7,,vi7 evidence-based recovery supports2 7,h7 propose to the ,secretary a multilingual public awareness campaign for maternal mental health and substance use disorder1 with a particular focus on minority women1 that includes information on-- 7i7 symptoms1 triggers1 risk factors1 and treatment options for maternal mental and behavioral health conditions2 7ii7 using the website developed under paragraph 7#c72 7iii7 the physiological process of recovery after birth2 7iv7 the frequency of occurrences for common conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage1 preeclampsia and eclampsia1 infection1 and thromboembolism2 7v7 best practices in patient reporting of health concerns to their maternity care providers in the prenatal and postpartum periods2 7vi7 addressing stigma around maternal mental and behavioral health conditions2 7vii7 how to seek treatment for substance use disorder during pregnancy and in the postpartum period2 and 7viii7 infant feeding options2 and 7,i7 disseminate to all ,state ,medicaid programs under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act and ,state child health plans under title ,,xxi of the ,social ,security ,act an assessment of the extent to which ,states are providing coverage of evidence-based prenatal and postpartum mental and behavioral health screenings through such programs and plans1 and an assessment of the benefits of such coverage4 7#b7 ,grant programs ,the ,task ,force shall evaluate and advise on the grant programs under section #cii,,oo-#b4 7#c7 ,centralized website ,the ,task ,force shall facilitate a coordinated effort between the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration and ,state departments of health to develop1 either directly or through a contract1 a centralized website with information on finding local mental and behavioral health providers who treat prenatal and postpartum mental and behavioral health conditions1 including substance use disorder4 7#d7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of the ,moms ,,matter ,act of #bjbj1 and every year thereafter1 the ,task ,force shall submit to the ,congress1 the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid1 and the ,center for ,medicare and ,medicaid ,innovation1 and make publicly available1 a report that-- 7,a7 describes the activities of the ,task ,force and the results of such activities1 with data in such results stratified racially1 ethnically1 and geographically2 and 7,b7 includes the strategy developed under paragraph 7#a74 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 #cii,,oo-#b4 ,innovation in maternity care to close racial and ethnic maternal health disparities grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish1 implement1 evaluate1 or expand innovative models in maternity care that are designed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 7b7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the grant to establish1 implement1 evaluate1 or expand innovative models described in subsection 7a7 including-- 7#a7 collaborative maternity care models to improve maternal mental health1 treat maternal substance use disorders1 and reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity1 especially for minority women1 consistent with the national strategy developed by the ,task ,force under section #cii,o-#a7;h77#a7 and other recommendations of the ,task ,force2 7#b7 evidence-based programming at clinics that-- 7,a7 provide wraparound services for women with substance use disorders in the prenatal and postpartum periods that may include multidisciplinary staff1 access to all evidence-based medication-assisted treatment1 psychotherapy1 contingency management1 and recovery supports2 or 7,b7 make referrals for any such services that are not provided within the clinic2 7#c7 evidence-based programs at freestanding birth centers that provide culturally congruent maternal mental and behavioral health care education1 treatments1 and services1 and other wraparound supports for women throughout the prenatal and postpartum period2 and 7#d7 the development and implementation of evidence-based programs1 including toll-free telephone hotlines1 that connect maternity care providers with women's mental health clinicians to provide maternity care providers with guidance on addressing maternal mental and behavioral health conditions identified in patients4 7c7 ,special consideration ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to applications for models that will-- 7#a7 operate in-- 7,a7 areas with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes2 7,b7 areas with significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes2 or 7,c7 health professional shortage areas designated under section #ccb2 7#b7 be led by minority women from demographic groups with disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes2 or 7#c7 be implemented with a culturally congruent approach that is focused on improving outcomes for demographic groups experiencing disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes4 7d7 ,evaluation ,as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to provide annual evaluations of the activities funded through the grant to the ,secretary and the ,task ,force4 ,such evaluations may address-- 7#a7 the effects of such activities on maternal health outcomes and subjective assessments of patient and family experiences1 especially for minority women from demographic groups with disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes2 and 7#b7 the cost-effectiveness of such activities4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible entity means any public or private entity4 7#b7 ,the term collaborative maternity care means an integrated care model that includes the delivery of maternal mental and behavioral health care services in primary clinics or other care settings familiar to pregnant and postpartum patients4 7#c7 ,the term culturally congruent means care that is in agreement with the preferred cultural values1 beliefs1 worldview1 language1 and practices of the health care consumer and other stakeholders4 7#d7 ,the term freestanding birth center has the meaning given that term under section #aije7l77#c77;,a7 of the ,social ,security ,act4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 #cii,,oo-#c4 ,group prenatal and postpartum care models 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish1 implement1 evaluate1 or expand culturally congruent group prenatal care models or group postpartum care models that are designed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes4 7b7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may use the grant for-- 7#a7 programming2 7#b7 capital investments required to improve existing physical infrastructure for group prenatal care and group postpartum care programming1 such as building space needed to implement such models2 and 7#c7 evaluations of group prenatal care and group postpartum care programming1 with a particular focus on the impacts of such programming on minority women4 7c7 ,special consideration ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to applicants that will-- 7#a7 operate in-- 7,a7 areas with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes2 7,b7 areas with significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes2 or 7,c7 health professional shortage areas designated under section #ccb2 7#b7 be led by minority women from demographic groups with disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes2 or 7#c7 be implemented with a culturally congruent approach that is focused on improving outcomes for demographic groups experiencing disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes4 7d7 ,evaluation ,as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall agree to provide annual evaluations of the activities funded through the grant to the ,secretary and the ,task ,force and address in each such evaluation-- 7#a7 the effects of such activities on maternal health outcomes with a particular focus on the effects of such activities on minority women1 including measures such as-- 7,a7 avoidable emergency room visits2 7,b7 postpartum care visits after delivery2 7,c7 rates of preterm birth2 7,d7 rates of breastfeeding initiation2 7,f7 psychological outcomes2 and 7,g7 subjective measures of patient-reported experience of care2 and 7#b7 the cost-effectiveness of such activities4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term eligible entity means any public or private entity4 7#b7 ,the term culturally congruent means care that is in agreement with the preferred cultural values1 beliefs1 worldview1 language1 and practices of the health care consumer and other stakeholders4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 4