Bill > H2208

This bill establishes a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund to address workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health care for individuals during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. The bill defines key terms such as "perinatal individual" (pregnant or within 12 months of giving birth or adoption) and "medically underserved populations" (areas with few healthcare providers, high infant mortality, high poverty, or large elderly populations). The Secretary of Health and Human Services will administer the trust fund by awarding grants to entities to create or expand educational and training programs that grow and diversify the perinatal behavioral health workforce. Grant recipients must prioritize programs serving medically underserved populations or areas with significant health disparities. The secretary is required to publish an annual public report detailing the grants awarded, including specifics about the recipients, program participants, and the fund's impact on healthcare shortages and workforce sustainability, with all information stratified by demographics such as age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, language, and zip code.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2208