§254c–1b Rural Obstetric Network Grants

Summary

The Secretary must give grants or cooperative agreements to eligible groups to create collaborative networks called rural obstetric networks. These networks must work to improve maternal and baby health and to cut preventable maternal deaths and serious pregnancy-related problems by improving prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care and access in rural areas, frontier areas, maternity care target areas, and Tribal jurisdictions. Grants can pay for networks that coordinate care, help pregnant people get services, try proven care models (including home visits and culturally appropriate care), use telehealth, train staff where there is no specialty maternity care, work with colleges to find and fix barriers, and address health gaps for racial, ethnic, and other underserved groups. Eligible entities are those who provide prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care in the covered areas or to Tribal groups. The Secretary must report to Congress by September 30, 2026, about what was done and the impact. Up to $3,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year 2023 through 2027.