Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§254c–21 Innovation for Maternal Health

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part D — Primary Health Care › subpart i — health centers › § 254c–21

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must set up or continue a competitive grant program, after consulting medical experts, public health officials, researchers, statisticians, and community groups. Grants go to eligible organizations to find, create, test, and share better ways to care for pregnant and postpartum women and their babies. That work includes using proven practices for prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care; working with State maternal mortality review committees; helping health care providers put best practices into place; and developing new care models that may link community services with clinical care. To get a grant, an organization must apply and show it can run data-driven safety and quality projects in obstetrics/gynecology or maternal health. The Secretary must report to Congress by September 30, 2025, and every two years after, on how these practices cut preventable maternal deaths and severe maternal illness and whether they improved maternal and infant health. Congress authorized $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §254c–21

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary, in consultation with experts representing a variety of clinical specialties, State, Tribal, or local public health officials, researchers, epidemiologists, statisticians, and community organizations, shall establish or continue a program to award competitive grants to eligible entities for the purpose of— (1)

(2)collaborating with State maternal mortality review committees to identify issues for the development and implementation of evidence-based practices to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, consistent with section 247b–12 of this title;

(3)providing technical assistance and supporting the implementation of best practices identified in paragraph (1) to entities providing health care services to pregnant and postpartum women; and

(4)identifying, developing, and evaluating new models of care that improve maternal and infant health outcomes, which may include the integration of community-based services and clinical care.

(b)Eligible entities

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1)submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and

(2)demonstrate in such application that the entity is capable of carrying out data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiatives in the areas of obstetrics and gynecology or maternal health.

(c)Report

Not later than September 30, 2025, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the practices described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). Such report shall include a description of the extent to which such practices reduced preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and whether such practices improved maternal and infant health. The Secretary shall disseminate information on such practices, as appropriate.

(d)Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 254c–21

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110