Bill > HR8811

This bill, known as the "Moms Matter Act," aims to improve maternal mental health and address substance use disorders by establishing a grant program and a workforce development initiative. The primary grant program, overseen by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will award funds to eligible entities—including community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and government entities—to expand maternity care programs, integrate mental health services into primary care, enhance prenatal and postpartum care, provide direct support and referrals for individuals with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, combat stigma, raise awareness of warning signs, and establish programs to prevent suicide or self-harm. Priority for these grants will be given to entities partnering with community organizations, operating in areas with high rates of maternal mortality or morbidity, and located in designated health professional shortage areas. Additionally, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a grant program focused on growing and diversifying the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce by supporting educational programs and offering scholarships, with a priority for entities committed to recruiting and retaining diverse students, including those from racial and ethnic minority groups and those planning to practice in underserved areas. Both programs include reporting requirements for grant recipients and the Secretary, and authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.