Sec. 803. Grants to promote equity in maternal health outcomes by increasing access to digital tools
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Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out a program, to be known as the Investments in Digital Tools to Promote Equity in Maternal Health Outcomes Program , under which the Secretary makes grants to eligible entities to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes by increasing access to digital tools related to maternal health care. To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The Secretary may not award more than 1 grant under this section to an eligible entity. Each grant under this section shall be made for a period of not more than 5 years. The Secretary shall determine the maximum amount of each grant under this section. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize the selection of an eligible entity that— operates in an area with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes; and promotes technology that addresses racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to an eligible entity on the development, use, evaluation, and post-grant sustainability of digital tools for purposes of promoting equity in maternal health outcomes. An eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection
(a)shall submit to the Secretary a report, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that— evaluates the effectiveness of grants awarded under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for minority women; makes recommendations for future grant programs that promote the use of technology to improve maternal health outcomes for minority women; and makes recommendations that address— privacy and security safeguards that should be implemented in the use of technology in maternal health care; reimbursement rates for maternal telehealth services; the use of digital tools to analyze large data sets for the purposes of identifying potential pregnancy-related complications as early as possible; barriers that prevent maternal health care providers from providing telehealth services across States and recommendations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for addressing such barriers in State Medicaid programs; the use of consumer digital tools such as mobile phone applications, patient portals, and wearable technologies to improve maternal health outcomes; barriers that prevent consumers from accessing telehealth services or other digital technologies to improve maternal health outcomes, including a lack of access to reliable, high-speed internet or lack of access to electronic devices needed to use such services and technologies; and any other related issues as determined by the Secretary. In this section, the term eligible entity is an entity that is described in section 51a.3(a) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations or any successor regulation, including domestic faith-based and community-based organizations. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.