This bill provides federal funding to help colleges and nursing schools start or expand programs that train midwives. Midwives are healthcare professionals who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, offering an alternative to traditional doctor-led deliveries. The government will prioritize giving money to schools that work to recruit midwife students from communities that are underrepresented in the profession and that encourage graduates to work in rural or underserved areas where pregnant people have limited access to healthcare providers. Essentially, the bill aims to increase the number of midwives available across the country, especially in places where expectant mothers struggle to find qualified maternity care, while also making the midwifery profession more diverse.

Midwives for MOMS Act of 2023

Luján, Ben Ray

Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2023 or the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2023 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. In awarding grants, HRSA must give special consideration to institutions that focus on increasing the number of midwife professionals from underrepresented groups and promote practicing in areas with limited access to professional health care.