CARE for Moms Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kelly (IL)
Introduced
Summary
Expanding postpartum care and improving maternal outcomes is the bill's central aim, paired with major tobacco tax reforms to create parity and new per‑use levies and fund programs.
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- Pregnant and postpartum people and families gain guaranteed 12‑month continuous Medicaid and CHIP postpartum coverage, required Medicaid oral health benefits, and public information on those benefits; the bill also creates a 305‑day postpartum FMAP window with 100% federal matching for the first 20 quarters, then 90% thereafter.
- States, rural providers, and the maternal health workforce get new funding and programs, including State-Based Perinatal Quality Collaborative grants (up to $250,000 per grant, and $35 million per year for FY2026–2030), a $50 million total doula workforce program, regional centers at $5 million per year, $10 million per year for rural mobile units, a five‑year maintenance‑of‑effort on pregnancy eligibility, and a 90‑day notice requirement before hospital obstetric unit closures.
- Consumers and tobacco producers face much higher excise taxes and new rules. The bill roughly doubles cigarette excise rates (small cigarettes from $50.33 to $100.66, large cigarettes from $105.69 to $211.38), raises taxes on cigars, smokeless and pipe tobacco, establishes per‑use taxes for other tobacco products, and creates a floor stocks tax and inflation indexing.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Longer Medicaid and dental coverage after birth
If enacted, Medicaid and CHIP would have to give 12 months of continuous full benefits after a pregnancy ends. Medicaid would also have to cover dental care during pregnancy and for one year after, including preventive, diagnostic, periodontal, and restorative services. CHIP dental packages for targeted low‑income pregnant women, and for pregnant teens on CHIP, would have to meet these same pregnancy and postpartum dental standards. This could reduce care gaps and dental costs during pregnancy and the year after birth.
Grants to strengthen maternal care and training
If enacted, the government would fund several programs to improve maternal care. It would provide $35 million each year for 2026–2030 to build state perinatal quality collaboratives, with grants up to $250,000 per year. It would fund $10 million each year for 2026–2030 for rural mobile obstetric units, and $5 million each year for 2026–2030 for regional training centers on bias and respectful care. It would also invest $50 million in 2026 to grow and diversify the doula workforce. The bill would define maternal mortality as deaths during pregnancy or within one year after, to standardize reporting.
Higher federal taxes on tobacco
If enacted, federal excise taxes on many tobacco products would go up. Examples include $211.38 per 1,000 large cigarettes and $100.66 per 1,000 small cigars or single‑use smokeless units. Rates would adjust each year for inflation after 2025. Some items would face a floor‑stocks tax on inventory, with a credit capped at the lesser of $1,000 or the tax amount. Most increases would apply to products removed after the month of enactment, with a 6‑month delay for some products.
WIC help for two years postpartum
If enacted, states could certify postpartum women for WIC for up to two years, instead of one. This would cut paperwork and help low‑income postpartum families keep nutrition support longer. States would choose whether to use the two‑year certification.
Advance notice before maternity unit closures
If enacted, hospitals would have to notify HHS at least 90 days before closing any obstetric unit. The notice would include a community impact analysis and steps to connect patients to other providers. This rule would start 180 days after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Cosponsors
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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