Sec. 1006. Task force on birthing experience and safe maternity care during a public health emergency
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The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall convene a task force (in this subsection referred to as the Task Force ) to develop recommendations, and make such recommendations publicly available in multiple languages, on respectful maternity care during the COVID–19 public health emergency and other public health emergencies, with a particular focus on outcomes for individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved communities.
In developing recommendations under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall address the following: Measures to facilitate respectful maternity care. Strategies to increase access to specialized care for individuals with high-risk pregnancies. COVID–19 diagnostic testing for pregnant individuals and individuals in labor. The designation of a companion during birthing. The ability to communicate using an electronic mobile device during birthing. With respect to an individual who has the virus that causes COVID–19— separation from a newborn after birth; and ensuring safety while breastfeeding.
Licensing, training, and reimbursement for midwives from racial and ethnic minority groups and underserved communities. Financial support for perinatal health workers who provide nonclinical support to pregnant individuals and postpartum individuals from underserved communities. The identification and treatment of prenatal and postpartum mental and behavioral health conditions that may have developed during, or worsened because of, the COVID–19 public health emergency or future public health emergencies, including anxiety, substance use disorder, and depression.
Strategies to address hospital capacity issues in communities with an increase in COVID–19 cases, or cases of other infectious diseases. Options for maternal care that reduce cross-contamination and maintain safety and quality of care, including auxiliary maternity units and freestanding birth centers. Methods to identify and address racism, bias, and discrimination in treatment, and to provide support to pregnant and postpartum individuals, including— evaluating the training of hospital staff on implicit bias and racism and respectful maternity care; and the collection of demographic data.
Other matters the Task Force determines appropriate. The Secretary shall select the chair of the Task Force from among the members of the Task Force. The Task Force shall be composed of— representatives of Federal agencies, including the agencies listed in paragraph (3); 3 or more representatives of State, local, or territorial public health departments from different areas in the United States that have a large historically marginalized population; one or more representatives of Tribal public health departments; one or more obstetrician-gynecologists or other physicians who provide obstetric care, with consideration for physicians who are from, or work in, communities experiencing a high rate of mortality and morbidity from COVID–19; one or more nurses who provide obstetric care, with consideration for physicians who are from, or work in, communities experiencing a high rate of mortality and morbidity from COVID–19; one or more perinatal health workers; one or more individuals who were pregnant or gave birth during the COVID–19 public health emergency; one or more individuals who had the virus that causes COVID–19 and later gave birth; one or more individuals who have received support from a perinatal health; and 3 or more independent experts who are racially and ethnically diverse with knowledge on racial and ethnic disparities in— public health; maternal health; or maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.
The agencies represented under paragraph (2)(A) shall include the following: The Department of Health and Human Services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Health Resources and Services Administration. The Indian Health Service. The National Institutes of Health.