Sec. 5202. MOMMIES

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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the gaps in coverage with respect to— pregnant individuals enrolled under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) and the Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. ); and postpartum individuals enrolled under a State plan (or waiver of such plan) under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) and the Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. ) who received assistance under either such program during their pregnancy.

The report required under this paragraph shall include the following: Information about the abilities and successes of State Medicaid agencies in determining whether pregnant and postpartum individuals are eligible under another insurance affordability program, and in transitioning any such individuals who are so eligible to coverage under such a program at the end of their period of eligibility for medical assistance, pursuant to section 435.1200 of the title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on September 1, 2018).

Information on factors contributing to gaps in coverage that disproportionately impact underserved populations, including low-income individuals, Black, Indigenous, and other individuals of color, individuals who reside in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A) )) or individuals who are members of a medically underserved population (as defined by section 330(b)(3) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A) )).

Recommendations for addressing and reducing such gaps in coverage. Such other information as the Comptroller General deems necessary. To the greatest extent possible, the Comptroller General shall disaggregate data presented in the report, including by age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, income level, and other demographic factors. Title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) is amended by inserting the following new section after section 1947: Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration project (in this section referred to as the demonstration project ) under which the Secretary shall provide grants to States to enter into arrangements with eligible entities to implement or expand a maternity care home model for eligible individuals.

The goals of the demonstration project are the following: To improve— maternity and infant care outcomes; birth equity; health equity for— Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, and gender nonconfirming individuals; people with disabilities; and other underserved populations; communication by maternity, infant care, and social services providers; integration of perinatal support services, including community health workers, doulas, social workers, public health nurses, peer lactation counselors, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, peer mental health workers, and others, into health care entities and organizations; care coordination between maternity, infant care, oral health services, and social services providers within the community; the quality and safety of maternity and infant care; the experience of individuals receiving maternity care, including by increasing the ability of an individual to develop and follow their own birthing plans; and access to adequate prenatal and postpartum care, including— prenatal care that is initiated in a timely manner; not fewer than 5 post-pregnancy visits to a maternity care provider; and interpregnancy care.

To provide coordinated, evidence-based, respectful, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and person-centered maternity care management. To decrease— severe and preventable maternal morbidity and maternal mortality; overall health care spending; unnecessary emergency department visits; inequities in maternal and infant care outcomes, including racial, economic, disability, gender-based, and geographical inequities; racial, gender, economic, and other discrimination among health care professionals; racism, discrimination, disrespect, and abuse in maternity care settings; the rate of cesarean deliveries for low-risk pregnancies; the rate of pre-term births and infants born with low birth weight; and the rate of avoidable maternal and newborn hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care units.

In designing and implementing the demonstration project the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, including— States; organizations representing relevant health care professionals, including oral health services professionals; organizations, particularly reproductive justice and birth justice organizations led by people of color, that represent consumers of maternal health care, including consumers of maternal health care who are disproportionately impacted by poor maternal health outcomes; representatives with experience implementing other maternity care home models, including representatives from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; community-based health care professionals, including doulas, lactation consultants, and other stakeholders; experts in promoting health equity and combating racial bias in health care settings; and Black, Indigenous, and other maternal health care consumers of color who have experienced severe maternal morbidity.

A State seeking to participate in the demonstration project shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall require. The Secretary shall select at least 10 States to participate in the demonstration project. In selecting States to participate in the demonstration project, the Secretary shall— ensure that there is geographic and regional diversity in the areas in which activities will be carried out under the project; ensure that States with significant inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes, including severe maternal morbidity, and other inequities based on race, income, or access to maternity care, are included; and ensure that at least 1 territory is included.

From amounts appropriated under subsection (l), the Secretary shall award 1 grant for each year of the demonstration project to each State that is selected to participate in the demonstration project. A State may use funds received under this section to— award grants or make payments to eligible entities as part of an arrangement described in subsection (f)(2); provide financial incentives to health care professionals, including community-based health care workers and community-based doulas, who participate in the State's maternity care home model; provide adequate training for health care professionals, including community-based health care workers, doulas, and care coordinators, who participate in the State's maternity care home model, which may include training for cultural humility and antiracism, racial bias, health equity, reproductive and birth justice, trauma-informed care, home visiting skills, and respectful communication and listening skills, particularly in regards to maternal health; pay for personnel and administrative expenses associated with designing, implementing, and operating the State's maternity care home model; pay for items and services that are furnished under the State's maternity care home model and for which payment is otherwise unavailable under this title; pay for services and materials to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate communication, including— language services such as interpreters and translation of written materials; and development of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials; and auxiliary aids and services; and pay for other costs related to the State's maternity care home model, as determined by the Secretary.

From the amounts appropriated under subsection (l), prior to awarding any grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter into a contract with a national external entity to create a single, uniform process to— ensure that States that receive grants under paragraph

(1)comply with the requirements of this section; and evaluate the outcomes of the demonstration project in each participating State. The contract described in subparagraph

(A)shall require the national external entity to submit to the Secretary— a yearly evaluation report for each year of the demonstration project; and a final impact report after the demonstration project has concluded. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the Secretary from making a determination that a State is not in compliance with the requirements of this section without the national external entity making such a determination. As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, a State shall enter into an arrangement with one or more eligible entities that meets the requirements of paragraph (2). Under an arrangement between a State and an eligible entity under this subsection, the eligible entity shall perform the following functions, with respect to eligible individuals enrolled with the entity under the State's maternity care home model— provide culturally and linguistically appropriate congruent care, which may include prenatal care, family planning services, medical care, mental and behavioral care, postpartum care, and oral health services to such eligible individuals through a team of health care professionals, which may include obstetrician-gynecologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, family physicians, primary care providers, oral health providers, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses such as nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, physical therapists, social workers, traditional and community-based doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, community health workers, peer mental health supporters, and other health care professionals; conduct a risk assessment of each such eligible individual to determine if their pregnancy is high or low risk, and establish a tailored pregnancy care plan, which takes into consideration the individual's own preferences and pregnancy care and birthing plans and determines the appropriate support services to reduce the individual's medical, social, and environmental risk factors, for each such eligible individual based on the results of such risk assessment; assign each such eligible individual to a culturally and linguistically appropriate care coordinator, which may be a nurse, social worker, traditional or community-based doula, community health worker, midwife, or other health care provider, who is responsible for ensuring that such eligible individual receives the necessary medical care and connections to essential support services; provide, or arrange for the provision of, essential support services, such as services that address— food access, nutrition, and exercise; smoking cessation; substance use disorder and addiction treatment; anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental and behavioral health issues; breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or other infant feeding options supports, initiation, continuation, and duration; stable, affordable, safe, and healthy housing; transportation; intimate partner violence; community and police violence; home visiting services; childbirth and newborn care education; oral health education; continuous labor support; group prenatal care; family planning and contraceptive care and supplies; and affordable child care; as appropriate, facilitate connections to a usual primary care provider, which may be a reproductive health care provider; refer to guidelines and opinions of medical associations when determining whether an elective delivery should be performed on an eligible individual before 39 weeks of gestation; provide such eligible individual with evidence-based and culturally and linguistically appropriate education and resources to identify potential warning signs of pregnancy and postpartum complications and when and how to obtain medical attention; provide, or arrange for the provision of, culturally and linguistically appropriate pregnancy and postpartum health services, including family planning counseling and services, to eligible individuals; track and report postpartum health and birth outcomes of such eligible individuals and their children; ensure that care is person-centered, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and patient-led, including by engaging eligible individuals in their own care, including through communication and education; and ensure adequate training for appropriately serving the population of individuals eligible for medical assistance under the State plan (or waiver of such plan), including through reproductive justice, birth justice, birth equity, and anti-racist frameworks, home visiting skills, and knowledge of social services. The Secretary shall conduct the demonstration project for a period of 5 years. Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter for each year of the demonstration project term, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the results of the demonstration project, including— the results of the final report of the national external entity required under subsection (e)(3)(B)(ii); and recommendations on whether the model studied in the demonstration project should be continued or more widely adopted, including by private health plans. To the extent that the Secretary determines necessary in order to carry out the demonstration project, the Secretary may waive section 1902(a)(1) (relating to statewideness) and section 1902(a)(10)(B) (relating to comparability). The Secretary shall establish a process to provide technical assistance to States that are awarded grants under this section and to eligible entities and other providers participating in a State maternity care home model funded by such a grant. In this section: The term eligible entity means an entity or organization that provides medically accurate, comprehensive maternity services to individuals who are eligible for medical assistance under a State plan under this title or a waiver of such a plan, and may include: A freestanding birth center. An entity or organization receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. A federally qualified health center. A rural health clinic. A health facility operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act). The term eligible individual means a pregnant individual or a formerly pregnant individual during the 1-year period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy, or such longer period beginning on such day as a State may elect, who is— enrolled in a State plan under this title, a waiver of such a plan, or a State child health plan under title XXI; and a patient of an eligible entity which has entered into an arrangement with a State under subsection (g). There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2030, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. . Section 1902(a)(13) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13) ) is amended— in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; in subparagraph (C), by striking the semicolon and inserting ; and ; and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: payment for primary care services (as defined in subsection (jj)(1)) furnished in the period that begins on the first day of the first month that begins after the date of enactment of this subparagraph by a provider described in subsection (jj)(2)— at a rate that is not less than 100 percent of the payment rate that applies to such services and the provider of such services under part B of title XVIII (or, if greater, the payment rate that would be applicable under such part if the conversion factor under section 1848(d) for the year were the conversion factor under such section for 2009); in the case of items and services that are not items and services provided under such part, at a rate to be established by the Secretary; and in the case of items and services that are furnished in rural areas (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)), health professional shortage areas (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A) )), or medically underserved areas (according to a designation under section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A) )), at the rate otherwise applicable to such items or services under clause

(i)or

(ii)increased, at the Secretary's discretion, by not more than 25 percent; . Section 1902(a)(13)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(13)(C) ) is amended by striking subsection

(jj)and inserting subsection (jj)(1) . Section 1905(dd) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(dd) ) is amended— by striking Notwithstanding and inserting the following: Notwithstanding ; by striking section 1902(a)(13)(C) and inserting subparagraph

(C)of section 1902(a)(13) ; by inserting or for services described in subparagraph

(D)of section 1902(a)(13) furnished during an additional period specified in paragraph (2), after 2015, ; by striking under such section and inserting under subparagraph

(C)or

(D)of section 1902(a)(13), as applicable ; and by adding at the end the following: For purposes of paragraph (1), the following are additional periods: The period that begins on the first day of the first month that begins after the date of enactment of this paragraph. . Section 1902(jj) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396a(jj) ) is amended— by redesignating paragraphs

(1)and

(2)as clauses

(i)and (ii), respectively, and realigning the left margins accordingly; by striking For purposes of subsection (a)(13)(C) and inserting the following: For purposes of subparagraphs

(C)and

(D)of subsection (a)(13) ; and by inserting after clause

(ii)(as so redesignated) the following: Such term does not include any services described in subparagraph

(A)or

(B)of paragraph

(1)if such services are provided in an emergency department of a hospital. For purposes of subparagraph

(D)of subsection (a)(13), a provider described in this paragraph is any of the following: A physician with a primary specialty designation of family medicine, general internal medicine, or pediatric medicine, or obstetrics and gynecology. An advanced practice clinician, as defined by the Secretary, that works under the supervision of— a physician that satisfies the criteria specified in subparagraph (A); a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant (as such terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)(A)) who is working in accordance with State law; or or a certified nurse-midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)) or a certified professional midwife who is working in accordance with State law. A rural health clinic, federally qualified health center, health center that receives funding under title X of the Public Health Service Act, or other health clinic that receives reimbursement on a fee schedule applicable to a physician. An advanced practice clinician supervised by a physician described in subparagraph (A), another advanced practice clinician, or a certified nurse-midwife. A midwife who is working in accordance with State law. . Section 1903(m)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396b(m)(2)(A) ) is amended— in clause (xii), by striking and after the semicolon; by realigning the left margin of clause

(xiii)so as to align with the left margin of clause

(xii)and by striking the period at the end of clause

(xiii)and inserting ; and ; and by inserting after clause

(xiii)the following: such contract provides that

(I)payments to providers specified in section 1902(a)(13)(D) for primary care services (as defined in section 1902(jj)) that are furnished during a year or period (as specified in section 1902(a)(13)(D) and section 1905(dd)) are at least equal to the amounts set forth and required by the Secretary by regulation;

(II)the entity shall, upon request, provide documentation to the State, sufficient to enable the State and the Secretary to ensure compliance with subclause (I); and

(III)the Secretary shall approve payments described in subclause

(I)that are furnished through an agreed upon capitation, partial capitation, or other value-based payment arrangement if the capitation, partial capitation, or other value-based payment arrangement is based on a reasonable methodology and the entity provides documentation to the State sufficient to enable the State and the Secretary to ensure compliance with subclause (I). . Section 1932(f) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396u–2(f) ) is amended— by striking section 1902(a)(13)(C) and inserting subsections

(C)and

(D)of section 1902(a)(13) ; and by inserting , and clause

(xiv)of section 1903(m)(2)(A) before the period. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (referred to in this subsection as MACPAC ) shall publish a report on the coverage of doula services under State Medicaid programs, which shall at a minimum include the following: Information about coverage for doula services under State Medicaid programs that currently provide coverage for such care, including the type of doula services offered (such as prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum support, and also community-based and traditional doula services). An analysis of barriers to covering doula services under State Medicaid programs. An identification of effective strategies to increase the use of doula services in order to provide better care and achieve better maternal and infant health outcomes, including strategies that States may use to recruit, train, and certify a diverse doula workforce, particularly from underserved communities, communities of color, and communities facing linguistic or cultural barriers. Recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to increase access to doula services in State Medicaid programs, including actions that ensure doulas may earn a living wage that accounts for their time and costs associated with providing care and community-based doula program administration and operation. In developing the report required under subparagraph (A), MACPAC shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including— States; organizations, especially reproductive justice and birth justice organizations led by people of color, representing consumers of maternal health care, including those that are disproportionately impacted by poor maternal health outcomes; organizations and individuals representing doulas, including community-based doula programs and those who serve underserved communities, including communities of color, and communities facing linguistic or cultural barriers; organizations representing health care providers; and Black, Indigenous, and other maternal health care consumers of color who have experienced severe maternal morbidity. Not later than 1 year after the date that MACPAC publishes the report required under paragraph (1)(A), the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall issue guidance to States on increasing access to doula services under Medicaid. Such guidance shall at a minimum include— options for States to provide medical assistance for doula services under State Medicaid programs; best practices for ensuring that doulas, including community-based doulas, receive reimbursement for doula services provided under a State Medicaid program, at a level that allows doulas to earn a living wage that accounts for their time and costs associated with providing care and community-based doula program administration; and best practices for increasing access to doula services, including services provided by community-based doulas, under State Medicaid programs. In developing the guidance required under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall consult with MACPAC and other relevant stakeholders, including— State Medicaid officials; organizations representing consumers of maternal health care, including those that are disproportionately impacted by poor maternal health outcomes; organizations representing doulas, including community-based doulas and those who serve underserved communities, such as communities of color and communities facing linguistic or cultural barriers; and organizations representing medical professionals. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress on State Medicaid programs’ use of telehealth to increase access to maternity care. Such report shall include the following: The number of State Medicaid programs that utilize telehealth that increases access to maternity care. With respect to State Medicaid programs that utilize telehealth that increases access to maternity care, information about— common characteristics of such programs' approaches to utilizing telehealth that increases access to maternity care; differences in States’ approaches to utilizing telehealth to improve access to maternity care, and the resulting differences in State maternal health outcomes, as determined by factors described in subsection (C); and when compared to patients who receive maternity care in person, what is known about— the demographic characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, and preferred language of the individuals enrolled in such programs who use telehealth to access maternity care; health outcomes for such individuals, including frequency of mortality and severe morbidity, as compared to individuals with similar characteristics who did not use telehealth to access maternity care; the services provided to individuals through telehealth, including family planning services, mental health care services, and oral health services; the devices and equipment provided to individuals for remote patient monitoring and telehealth, including blood pressure monitors and blood glucose monitors; the quality of maternity care provided through telehealth, including whether maternity care provided through telehealth is culturally and linguistically appropriate; the level of patient satisfaction with maternity care provided through telehealth to individuals enrolled in State Medicaid programs; the impact of utilizing telehealth to increase access to maternity care on spending, cost savings, access to care, and utilization of care under State Medicaid programs; and the accessibility and effectiveness of telehealth for maternity care during the COVID–19 pandemic. An identification and analysis of the barriers to using telehealth to increase access to maternity care under State Medicaid programs. Recommendations for such legislative and administrative actions related to increasing access to telehealth maternity services under Medicaid as the Comptroller General deems appropriate.

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