# Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

Black women in America face a maternal health crisis. They die from pregnancy and childbirth complications at nearly three to four times the rate of white women, and they experience serious health complications at much higher rates too. This bill is a comprehensive effort to address that disparity by tackling the problem from multiple angles—from the social conditions that affect pregnant women's health to the quality of care they receive in hospitals.

The bill recognizes that maternal health isn't just about what happens in the delivery room. It addresses the "social determinants"—the real-world conditions that shape health, like whether someone has stable housing, reliable transportation, access to nutritious food, and affordable childcare. The bill creates grant programs to help communities improve these conditions for pregnant and postpartum women. It also funds housing assistance programs specifically for pregnant women and new mothers, expands access to childcare, and improves transportation options in underserved areas. These aren't medical interventions, but the bill treats them as essential to keeping mothers and babies healthy.

The bill also focuses heavily on the quality and respect women receive from healthcare providers. It requires training programs to teach maternity care workers about respectful, culturally sensitive care and addresses bias and discrimination in hospitals and clinics. It funds community-based organizations—especially those led by Black women and other communities of color—to provide support during pregnancy and after birth. The bill also expands the perinatal workforce by funding scholarships and training programs to recruit more diverse doctors, nurses, midwives, and support workers like doulas and community health workers.

Beyond individual care, the bill invests in data collection and research to better understand why maternal mortality and complications are so high in Black communities and other underserved populations. It funds studies on maternal mental health, the impact of climate change on pregnant women, and how to use technology like telehealth to improve access to care. The bill also addresses specific vulnerable populations: it includes protections for pregnant women in prisons and jails, support for pregnant veterans, and provisions to ensure pregnant women are included in vaccine and treatment research. Overall, this is a multifaceted approach that treats maternal health as a public health priority requiring investment across healthcare, social services, research, and workforce development.

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

Underwood, Lauren

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 This bill directs multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations. It also addresses maternal health issues related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other specified departments must address the social determinants of maternal health, which include child care, housing, food security, transportation, and environmental conditions. The bill also extends to 24 months postpartum eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children. Additionally, HHS and other agencies must take actions to grow and diversify the maternal health workforce. To increase access to maternity care, HHS and other agencies must (1) award specified grants; (2) test an alternative payment model for perinatal care under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and (3) support training, technology, and telehealth initiatives. The bill also increases research and data collection on maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly among tribal populations and minority groups. The Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice must establish programs to improve maternity care for incarcerated populations. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission must also report on the impact of Medicaid ineligibility for pregnant and postpartum prisoners. Additionally, as a condition for certain grants, states and territories must have laws limiting the use of restraints on pregnant individuals in prisons. The bill also directs activities to mitigate adverse maternal health outcomes associated with climate change and to improve maternal vaccination rates.