Data to Save Moms Act
Sponsored By: Senator Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Introduced
Summary
Improve maternal mortality reviews and data. This bill would fund community-focused review committees, expand what those committees examine, and push federal agencies to fix gaps in maternal health data and quality measures.
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- Families and communities: Pregnant and postpartum people, especially from racial and ethnic minority groups, would see reviews that explicitly include suicide, overdose, mental health, substance use, and nonclinical factors in determining causes and solutions.
- Tribal and American Indian and Alaska Native communities: The bill would set aside at least $1.5 million per year for Tribal MRRC grants and fund a dedicated study with $2.0 million per year for three years to assess causes, data misclassification, and IHS funding and services.
- Researchers, MRRCs, and health systems: It would authorize $10.0 million per year for MRRC diversity and engagement grants and $10.0 million per year for research grants to minority-serving institutions, and direct CMS and AHRQ to recommend data collection and quality measure changes.
*Would increase federal spending by authorizing roughly $50.0 million for MRRC grants and $50.0 million for minority-serving institution research across FY2027–2031, about $6.0 million for the AI/AN study across FY2027–2029, plus additional unspecified funding for the federal data review.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal review of maternal data
If enacted, HHS (through CMS and AHRQ) would review how maternal health data and quality measures are collected and used from pregnancy through one year postpartum. The review would look at death certificate timing, collection of race and other demographics in health records, hospital and birth center reporting, cause-of-death practices, and data-access barriers. HHS would consult many stakeholders and must send a public report to Congress within one year of enactment. The bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2027–2030.
American Indian and Alaska Native maternal study
If enacted, HHS would contract within 90 days with an independent research organization or Tribal Epidemiology Center to study maternal deaths and serious maternal health problems among American Indian and Alaska Native people. A 12-member study body representing each IHS service area would guide participatory listening, examine care inside and outside IHS, consider social and historical factors, and recommend ways to reduce racial misclassification. The contractor must report to Congress within 36 months. The bill authorizes $2 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2029.
Grants for minority-serving maternal research
If enacted, HHS would create grants for research centers and health programs at minority-serving institutions to study maternal deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and related disparities. Eligible topics include community listening, data and racial misclassification issues (including Hispanic subgroups), access to early prenatal care, and workforce diversity like lactation education. The Secretary could use up to 10 percent of funds for outreach and technical help. Grant winners must report, and HHS must give Congress an annual summary starting one year after the first award. The bill authorizes $10 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031.
More community funding for MRRCs
If enacted, HHS would award grants and provide technical help to State, Tribal, and Urban Indian maternal mortality review committees to boost community representation and engagement. Grants could pay for training, transportation, compensation, outreach to women from racial and ethnic minority groups, and public reports on committee diversity. At least $1.5 million of each $10 million annual appropriation would be reserved for Tribes, Tribal organizations, or Urban Indian organizations for fiscal years 2027–2031. The bill would also require MRRCs, to the extent practicable, to review severe maternal morbidity using up-to-date indicators and to review deaths up to one year after pregnancy from suicide, overdose, and mental health or substance use disorders, while consulting local community groups.
New definitions for maternity care
If enacted, the bill would set the postpartum period as one year after pregnancy. It would define maternity care providers to include physicians, midwives, APRNs, physician assistants, International Board Certified lactation consultants, and doulas accredited by a State to receive Medicaid reimbursement. Severe maternal morbidity would explicitly include mental health conditions and substance use disorders attributed to or worsened by pregnancy. The doula inclusion is conditioned on State accreditation for Medicaid reimbursement, which may limit immediate impact.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov