# 119-hr-3942: Keeping Obstetrics Local Act 119-hr-3942, Keeping Obstetrics Local Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3942 - As of: 2026-04-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-3942 - Congress: 119 - Title: Keeping Obstetrics Local Act - Status: introduced - Introduced: 2025-06-12 - Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR) - Cosponsors: 1 - Policy area: Health - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-04-21 ## Summary **This bill would aim to __stabilize local labor and delivery services__ by boosting Medicaid payment rates, creating recurring 'anchor' payments for low-volume hospitals, and expanding coverage and workforce supports for pregnant and postpartum people.** - Families and pregnant individuals: It would create a Medicaid option for maternity health homes that coordinate care through pregnancy and for 12 months postpartum. The option comes with an initial enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage of 90% for the first eight fiscal quarters and requires mandatory presumptive eligibility for pregnant people. - Rural and low-volume hospitals: States would have to study maternity care costs and pay eligible hospitals a minimum Medicaid rate starting in FY2027 equal to 150% of the Medicare rate. The bill would also require so-called anchor payments and offers a 100% federal match for the portion of payments that brings hospitals up to the minimum rate. - Workforce and access: The Secretary could detail Commissioned Corps personnel to areas with urgent maternal needs and the bill authorizes $150 million for these deployments each year. It also streamlines enrollment of nearby out-of-State maternity providers and directs guidance on doula and midwife coverage. *It would increase federal spending by funding planning and technical grants, authorizing ongoing emergency workforce funding, and expanding federal Medicaid matching for higher maternity payments.* ## Cosponsors (1) - Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - 12-month postpartum Medicaid and quick prenatal coverage: benefit, high. This bill would require States to give full Medicaid coverage during pregnancy and for 12 months after it ends. The same rule would apply to CHIP. It would also require short-term, presumptive Medicaid so pregnant people can get prenatal care right away, and hospitals could help make quick eligibil… - Federal teams to fill maternity care gaps: benefit, high. HHS could send Commissioned Corps health staff to areas where a hospital closed, is about to close, or lost key maternal health workers. The Secretary could require the local entity to keep services going, submit hiring and transition plans, and allow workplace reviews. Service by detailed staff wo… - 180-day notice before OB unit closes: benefit, medium. Hospitals would need to give at least 180 days’ notice before closing an obstetric unit, starting 180 days after this rule takes effect. The notice would have to explain expected community impacts, causes, historic transportation costs, and where patients can get care. States would have to post the… - Easier enrollment for out-of-state maternity providers: benefit, medium. Starting January 1, 2028, States would have to let eligible out-of-state maternity providers enroll in Medicaid or CHIP without extra screening beyond in-state rules. Enrollment would last five years and could be renewed. Providers must be in a neighboring State, have been properly screened, and no… - Higher Medicaid pay for maternity care: benefit, medium. Starting in FY2027, Medicaid would have to pay eligible hospitals at least 150% of the Medicare rate for maternity, labor, and delivery services. The Secretary would define which services count and which hospitals qualify by July 1, 2026, and managed care and CHIP would follow these rules. For quar… - Optional maternity health homes in Medicaid: benefit, medium. Starting January 1, 2028, States could offer a maternity health home for pregnant people and those up to 12 months after pregnancy who have full Medicaid. The federal share would be 90% for the first eight fiscal quarters. The bill would provide $50 million in FY2027 for State planning grants. Prov… - Stability payments for small OB hospitals: benefit, medium. States would have to set up an annual "anchor" payment for low-volume obstetric hospitals. By October 1, 2026, States would file a plan; payments would start in FY2028 and be paid within three months after year-end. For FY2028, the revenue floor would be $10,000 per delivery plus $1,200,000 for sta… - State maternity cost studies and national report: benefit, low. States would have to study the costs of maternity, labor, and delivery care within 24 months and then every five years. HHS would get $10 million in FY2026 to help small rural hospitals gather data. HHS would publish each State’s results within 12 months of submission and issue a national analysis… ## Related bills - 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 - 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act - 119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 - 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act - 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act ## Sources - [119-hr-3942 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3942) ## Related - [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877) - [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151) - [119-hr-10421: Transforming Education for the Future Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10421) - [119-hr-3816: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3816) - [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977) - [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3942 (as of 2026-04-21).