# Plain Language Summary: Midwives for MOMS Act of 2021

This bill aims to address the shortage of midwives in America by providing federal funding to help train more of them. Midwives are healthcare professionals who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. The bill recognizes that many parts of the country don't have enough maternity care providers, which can lead to worse health outcomes for pregnant people and newborns. By investing in midwife education, the bill hopes to expand access to maternity services, especially in underserved areas.

The bill creates two separate funding programs. The first provides $15 million over five years to colleges and universities to support midwifery education programs that are independent from nursing schools. This money can be used to help pay for students' education, start new midwifery programs, or train experienced professionals to supervise and teach students. The second program provides $20 million over five years to nursing schools specifically to expand nurse-midwifery programs, which are midwifery programs within schools of nursing. Both programs use the same funding breakdown: half the money goes directly to student support, while the other half is split between starting new programs and training supervisors.

The bill includes special incentives for schools that commit to training midwives who will work in areas that currently lack adequate healthcare providers and for schools that actively work to recruit students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. This approach recognizes that midwifery has historically lacked diversity and that underserved communities often have the greatest need for maternity care. Overall, the bill is designed to increase the number of trained midwives available to provide care across the country, with particular attention to communities that have been underserved by the current healthcare system.

Midwives for MOMS Act of 2021

Roybal-Allard, Lucille

Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2021 or the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2021 This bill establishes grants within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for establishing or expanding midwifery programs at institutions of higher education and nursing schools. HRSA may prioritize funding for institutions that focus on increasing the number of midwife professionals from underrepresented groups and that promote practicing in areas with limited access to professional health care.