,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #deeb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ah1 #bjbf,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 and ,mr4 ,booker7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,moms ,matter ,act4 #b4 ,maternal mental health equity grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use1 shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 with a focus on demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes4 7b7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that-- 7#a7 is1 or will partner with1 a community-based organization to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders described in subsection 7a72 7#b7 is operating in an area with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes2 and 7#c7 is operating in a health professional shortage area designated under section #ccb of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;e74 7d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant for the following3 7#a7 ,establishing or expanding maternity care programs to improve the integration of maternal mental health and behavioral health care services into primary care settings where pregnant individuals regularly receive health care services4 7#b7 ,establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs or postpartum care programs4 7#c7 ,expanding existing programs that improve maternal mental and behavioral health during the prenatal and postpartum periods1 with a focus on individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes4 7#d7 ,providing services and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 including referrals to addiction treatment centers that offer evidence-based treatment options4 7#e7 ,addressing stigma associated with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 with a focus on individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes4 7#f7 ,raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 with a focus on pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes4 7#g7 ,establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide or self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals4 7#h7 ,offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding birth centers that provide maternal mental and behavioral health care education1 treatments1 and services1 and other services for individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum period4 7#i7 ,establishing or expanding programs to provide education and training to maternity care providers with respect to-- 7,a7 identifying potential warning signs for maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals1 with a focus on individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes2 and 7,b7 in the case where such providers identify such warning signs1 offering referrals to mental and behavioral health care professionals4 7#aj7 ,developing a website1 or other source1 that includes information on health care providers who treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders4 7#aa7 ,establishing or expanding programs in communities to improve coordination between maternity care providers and mental and behavioral health care providers who treat maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders1 including through the use of toll-free hotlines4 7#ab7 ,carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-based practices for addressing maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes4 7e7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,eligible entities ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection 7a7 shall submit annually to the ,secretary1 and make publicly available1 a report on the activities conducted using funds received through a grant under this section4 ,such reports shall include quantitative and qualitative evaluations of such activities1 including the experience of individuals who received health care through such grant4 7#b7 ,secretary ,not later than the end of fiscal year #bjcj1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7,a7 a summary of the reports received under paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants awarded under this section2 7,c7 recommendations with respect to expanding coverage of evidence-based screenings and treatments for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders2 and 7,d7 recommendations with respect to ensuring activities described under subsection 7d7 continue after the end of a grant period4 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a community-based organization serving pregnant and postpartum individuals1 including such organizations serving individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality1 severe maternal morbidity1 maternal health disparities1 or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes2 7,b7 a nonprofit or patient advocacy organization with expertise in maternal mental and behavioral health2 7,c7 a maternity care provider2 7,d7 a mental or behavioral health care provider who treats maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders2 7,e7 a ,state or local governmental entity1 including a ,state or local public health department2 7,f7 an ,indian ,tribe or ,tribal organization 7as such terms are defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd772 and 7,g7 an ,urban ,indian organization 7as such term is defined in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc774 7#b7 ,freestanding birth center ,the term freestanding birth center has the meaning given that term under section #aije7l7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;d7#a774 7#c7 ,maternal mortality ,the term maternal mortality means a death occurring during or within a #a-year period after pregnancy1 caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications1 including a suicide1 overdose1 or other death resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications4 7#d7 ,maternity care provider ,the term maternity care provider means a health care provider who-- 7,a7 is a physician1 a physician assistant1 a midwife who meets1 at a minimum1 the international definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as established by the ,international ,confederation of ,midwives1 an advanced practice registered nurse1 a doula accredited by a ,state to receive reimbursement for doula services under a ,state plan 7or a waiver of such plan7 under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et seq471 or a lactation consultant certified by the ,international ,board of ,lactation ,consultant ,examiners2 and 7,b7 has a focus on maternal or perinatal health4 7#e7 ,postpartum and postpartum period ,the terms postpartum and postpartum period refer to the #a-year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of an individual4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#g7 ,severe maternal morbidity ,the term severe maternal morbidity means a health condition1 including a mental health condition or substance use disorder1 attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health of the individual who was pregnant4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4 #c4 ,grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce ,title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act is amended by inserting after section #geg of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bid;f7 the following new section3 #geh4 ,maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants to entities to establish or expand programs described in subsection 7b7 to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce4 7b7 ,use of funds ,recipients of grants under this section shall use the grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce by-- 7#a7 establishing schools or programs that provide education and training to individuals seeking appropriate licensing or certification as mental or behavioral health care providers who will specialize in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders2 or 7#b7 expanding the capacity of existing schools or programs described in paragraph 7#a71 for the purposes of increasing the number of students enrolled in such schools or programs1 including by awarding scholarships for students4 7c7 ,prioritization ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to any entity that-- 7#a7 has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups2 7#b7 has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a diverse pool of students into the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school supported by funds received through the grant1 particularly from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations2 7#c7 has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section #ccb2 7#d7 has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in an area with significant maternal health disparities1 to the extent practicable2 and 7#e7 includes in the standard curriculum for all students within the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school a bias1 racism1 or discrimination training program that includes training on implicit bias and racism4 7d7 ,reporting ,as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section for a maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce program or school1 an entity shall agree to submit to the ,secretary an annual report on the activities conducted through the grant1 including-- 7#a7 the number and demographics of students participating in the program or school2 7#b7 the extent to which students in the program or school are entering careers in-- 7,a7 health professional shortage areas designated under section #ccb2 and 7,b7 areas with significant maternal health disparities1 to the extent such data are available2 and 7#c7 whether the program or school has included in the standard curriculum for all students a bias1 racism1 or discrimination training program that includes training on implicit bias and racism1 and if so the effectiveness of such training program4 7e7 ,period of grants ,the period of a grant under this section shall be up to #e years4 7f7 ,application ,to seek a grant under this section1 an entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection 7c74 7g7 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall provide1 directly or by contract1 technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a grant under this section on the development1 use1 evaluation1 and postgrant period sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce programs or schools proposed to be1 or being1 established or expanded through the grant4 7h7 ,report by the ,secretary ,not later than #d years after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall prepare and submit to ,congress1 and post on the website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 a report on the effectiveness of the grant program under this section at-- 7#a7 recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations2 7#b7 increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations2 7#c7 increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in health professional shortage areas designated under section #ccb2 and 7#d7 increasing the number of mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with significant maternal health disparities1 to the extent such data are available4 7i7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,racial and ethnic minority group ,the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given such term in section #agjg7;g77#a74 7#b7 ,mental or behavioral health care provider ,the term mental or behavioral health care provider means a health care provider in the field of mental and behavioral health1 including substance use disorders1 acting in accordance with ,state law4 7j7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4 4