Sec. 202. Health homes for pregnant and postpartum women
2,966 words·~13 min read·
/bill/119/hr/3942/ih/section-202·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 1945A the following new section: Notwithstanding section 1902(a)(1) (relating to statewideness) and section 1902(a)(10)(B) (relating to comparability), beginning January 1, 2028, a State, at its option as a State plan amendment, may provide for medical assistance under this title to an eligible individual who chooses to— enroll in a maternity health home under this section by selecting a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team as the individual’s maternity health home for purposes of providing the individual with pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services; or receive such services from a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team that has voluntarily opted to participate in a maternity health home for eligible individuals under this section.
In this section, the term eligible individual means an individual— who is eligible for medical assistance under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) for all items and services covered under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan); who is not enrolled in a health home under section 1945 or 1945A; and either— who is pregnant; or whose pregnancy has ended and is within the 12-month period that begins on the last day of the individual’s pregnancy and ends on the last day of the month in which such 12-month period ends.
The Secretary shall establish standards for qualification as a maternity health home or as a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team eligible for participation in a maternity health home for purposes of this section. In establishing such standards, the Secretary shall consider best practices and models of care used by recipients of grants under section 330P of the Public Health Service Act. Such standards shall include requiring a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, and a health team designated as a maternity health home to demonstrate to the State the ability to do the following:
Coordinate prompt care and access to necessary maternity care services, including services provided by specialists, and programs for an eligible individual during the individual’s pregnancy and the 365-day period beginning on the last day of such pregnancy. Develop an individualized, comprehensive, patient-centered care plan for each eligible individual that accommodates patient preferences and, if applicable, reflects adjustments to the payment methodology described in subsection (c)(2)(B).
Develop and incorporate into each eligible individual’s care plan, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner consistent with the needs of the eligible individual, ongoing home care, community-based primary care, inpatient care, social support services, health-related social needs services, behavioral health services, local hospital emergency care, and, in the event of a change in income that would result in the eligible individual losing eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan), care management and planning related to a change in the eligible individual’s health insurance coverage.
Coordinate with pediatric care providers, as appropriate. Collect and report information under subsection (f)(1). A State shall provide a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team designated as a maternity health home with payments for the provision of health home services to each eligible individual that selects such provider, team of health care professionals, or health team as the eligible individual’s health home.
Payments made to a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team for such services shall be treated as medical assistance for purposes of section 1903(a), except that, during the first 8 fiscal year quarters that the State plan amendment is in effect, the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to such payments shall be equal to 90 percent. The State shall specify in the State plan amendment the methodology the State will use for determining payment for the provision of pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services or treatment during an eligible individual's pregnancy and the 365-day period beginning on the last day of such pregnancy.
Such methodology for determining payment— may be based on— a per-member per-month basis for each eligible individual enrolled in a maternity health home; a prospective payment model, in the case of payments to Federally qualified health centers or a rural health clinics; or an alternate model of payment proposed by the State and approved by the Secretary; may be adjusted to reflect, with respect to each eligible individual— the severity of the risks associated with the individual's pregnancy; the severity of the risks associated with the individual's postpartum health care needs; and the level or amount of time of care coordination required with respect to the individual; and shall be established consistent with section 1902(a)(30)(A).
A State with a State plan amendment approved under this section shall require each hospital that is a participating provider under the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan) to establish procedures in the case of an eligible individual who seeks treatment in the emergency department of such hospital for— providing the individual with culturally and linguistically appropriate information supplied by the State describing the respective treatment models and opportunities for the individual to access a maternity health home and its associated benefits; and notifying the maternity health home in which the individual is enrolled, or the designated provider, team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or health team treating the individual, of the individual's treatment in the emergency department and of the protocols for the maternity health home, designated provider, or team to be involved in the individual’s emergency care or post-discharge care.
In order for a State plan amendment to be approved under this section, a State shall include in the State plan amendment a description of the State’s process for— educating providers participating in the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) on the availability of maternity health homes for eligible individuals, including the process by which such providers can participate in or refer an eligible individual to an approved maternity health home or a designated provider, team of health care professionals operating such a provider, or health team designated as a maternity health home; and educating eligible individuals, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, on the availability of maternity health homes.
The process established by the State under subparagraph
(A)shall include the participation of entities or other public or private organizations or entities that provide outreach and information on the availability of health care items and services to families of individuals eligible to receive medical assistance under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan). A State with a State plan amendment approved under this section shall consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Secretary in addressing issues regarding the prevention, identification, and treatment of mental health conditions and substance use disorders among eligible individuals. A State with a State plan amendment approved under this section shall consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Secretary in establishing means to connect eligible individuals receiving pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services under this section with social and support services, including services made available under maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs established under section 511 and services made available under section 330H or title X of the Public Health Service Act. A State with a State plan amendment approved under this section shall consult and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Secretary with respect to the provision of medical assistance to eligible individuals enrolled in a maternity health home under this section and grantees delivering integrated health care services to pregnant and postpartum women under section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (including, if applicable, the State). A State shall include in the State plan amendment— a methodology for tracking reductions in inpatient days and reductions in the total cost of care resulting from improved care coordination and management under this section; a proposal for use of health information technology in providing an eligible individual with pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services as specified under this section and improving service delivery and coordination across the care continuum; and a methodology for tracking prompt and timely access to medically necessary care for eligible individuals from out-of-State providers. In order to receive payments from a State under subsection (c), a maternity health home, or a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team designated as a maternity health home, shall report to the State, at such time and in such form and manner as may be required by the State, including through a health information exchange or other public health data sharing entity, the following information: With respect to each such designated provider, team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, and health team designated as a maternity health home, the name, National Provider Identification number, address, and specific health care services offered to be provided to any eligible individual who has selected such provider, team of health care professionals, or health team as the eligible individual's maternity health home. Information on all other applicable measures for determining the quality of services provided by such provider, team of health care professionals, or health team. Information concerning the factors described in paragraph (2)(A)(vi) received from health risk assessments of eligible individuals conducted and completed by the designated provider, team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or health team designated as a maternity health home. Such other information as the Secretary shall specify in guidance. A State with a State plan amendment approved under this section shall report to the Secretary (and, upon request, to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission), at such time, but at a minimum annually, and in such form and manner determined by the Secretary to be reasonable and minimally burdensome, the following information: Information described in paragraph (1). The number and, to the extent available and while maintaining all relevant privacy and confidentially protections, disaggregated demographic information (including information on geography) of eligible individuals who have enrolled in a maternity health home pursuant to this section. The number of maternity health homes in the State designated under this section. The medical conditions or factors that contribute to severe maternal morbidity among eligible individuals enrolled in maternity health homes in the State. The extent to which such individuals receive health care items and services under the State plan before, during, and after an individual’s enrollment in such a maternity health home. Where applicable, mortality data and data for the associated causes of pregnancy-related death for eligible individuals enrolled in a maternity health home under this section, in accordance with subsection (g). For deaths occurring postpartum, such data shall distinguish between deaths occurring up to 42 days postpartum and deaths occurring between 43 days to up to 1 year postpartum. Where applicable, data reported under this clause shall be reported alongside comparable data from a State’s maternal mortality review committee, as established in accordance with section 317K(d) of the Public Health Service Act, for purposes of further identifying and comparing statewide trends in maternal mortality among populations participating in the maternity health home under this section. Not later than 18 months after a State has a State plan amendment approved under this section, the State shall submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available on the appropriate State website, a report on how the State is implementing the option established under this section, including through any best practices adopted by the State. A State with a State plan amendment under this section shall establish confidentiality protections for the purposes of subsection (f)(2)(A) to ensure, at a minimum, that there is no disclosure by the State of any identifying information about any specific eligible individual enrolled in a maternity health home or any maternal mortality case, and that all relevant confidentiality and privacy protections, including the requirements under section 1902(a)(7)(A), are maintained. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require— an eligible individual to enroll in a maternity health home under this section; or a designated provider or health team to act as a maternity health home and provide services in accordance with this section if the provider or health team does not voluntarily agree to act as a maternity health home. Beginning January 1, 2027, from the amount appropriated under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award planning grants to States for purposes of developing and submitting a State plan amendment under this section. The Secretary shall award a grant to each State that applies for a grant under this subsection and meets the application criteria established by the Secretary, and the Secretary may determine the amount of the grant based on the merits of the application and the goal of the State to prioritize health outcomes for eligible individuals. A planning grant awarded to a State under this subsection shall remain available until expended. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, for the purposes of making grants under this subsection, to remain available until expended. The total amount of payments made to States under this subsection shall not exceed $50,000,000. In this section: The term designated provider means a physician (including an obstetrician-gynecologist or, if applicable, a certified nurse midwife, or certified professional midwife who meets or exceeds the education and training standards of the International Confederation of Midwives and who is licensed to practice within the State), a hospital, clinical practice or clinical group practice, rural health clinic, community health center, community mental health center, or any other entity or provider that is determined by the State and approved by the Secretary to be qualified to be a maternity health home on the basis of documentation evidencing that the entity or provider has the systems, expertise, and infrastructure in place to provide pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services. Such term may include providers who are employed by, or affiliated with, a hospital. The term health team has the meaning given such term for purposes of section 3502 of Public Law 111–148 . The term maternity health home means a designated provider (including a provider that operates in coordination with a team of health care professionals) or a health team that is selected by an eligible individual to provide pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services. The term pregnancy and postpartum coordinated care services means items and services related to the coordination of care for comprehensive and timely high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate, services described in subparagraph
(B)that are provided by a designated provider, a team of health care professionals operating with such a provider, or a health team designated as a maternity health home. The services described in this subparagraph shall include with respect to a State electing the State plan amendment option under this section, any medical assistance for items and services for which payment is available under the State plan or under a waiver of such plan. In addition to medical assistance described in clause (i), the services described in this subparagraph shall include the following: Any item or service for which medical assistance is otherwise available under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) related to the treatment of an individual during the individual's pregnancy and the 1-year period beginning on the last day of such pregnancy, including mental health and substance use disorder services. Comprehensive care management. Care coordination (including with pediatricians as appropriate), health promotion, and providing access to the full range of maternal, obstetric, and gynecologic services, including services from out-of-State providers. Comprehensive transitional care, including appropriate follow-up, from inpatient to other settings. Patient and family support (including authorized representatives). Referrals to community and social support services, if relevant. Use of health information technology to link services, as feasible and appropriate. The term team of health care professionals means a team of health care professionals (as described in the State plan amendment under this section) that may— include— physicians, including gynecologist-obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, or certified professional midwives who meet or exceed the education and training standards of the International Confederation of Midwives and who are licensed to practice within the State, family physicians, primary care physicians, pediatricians, and other professionals such as physicians assistants, advance practice nurses, nurses, nurse care coordinators, dietitians, nutritionists, social workers, behavioral health professionals, physical counselors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, or any professionals that assist in prenatal care, delivery, or postpartum care for which medical assistance is available under the State plan or a waiver of such plan and determined to be appropriate by the State and approved by the Secretary; an entity or individual who is designated to coordinate such care delivered by the team; and when appropriate and if otherwise eligible to furnish items and services that are reimbursable as medical assistance under the State plan or under a waiver of such plan, doulas, community health workers, translators and interpreters, and other individuals with culturally appropriate and trauma-informed expertise; and provide care at a facility that is freestanding, virtual, or based at a hospital, community health center, community mental health center, rural health clinic, clinical practice or clinical group practice, academic health center, or any entity determined to be appropriate by the State and approved by the Secretary. . Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1) ), as amended by section 105, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: Section 1945B (relating to optional health homes for pregnant and postpartum individuals). .
Connectionstraces to 2
1 reference not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 111-148
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 202
Health homes for pregnant and postpartum women
Pub. L.Pub. L. 111-148
Cites 3Cited by 0 across 0 sources