Bill > HR8907

This bill, titled the "Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To Save Moms Act" or "IM-PACT to Save Moms Act," directs the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a government agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid, to establish and implement a "Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project" from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. This project aims to test different ways of paying for maternity care for pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in state Medicaid and child health plans. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will coordinate with various stakeholders, including state Medicaid programs, healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups (especially those representing groups with higher rates of maternal mortality or health disparities), community organizations, perinatal health workers, insurance companies, hospitals, birth centers, Federally-qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and researchers. The project will consider alternative payment models designed to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for underserved populations, by stratifying patients by pregnancy risk, using evidence-based quality metrics, including non-hospital birth settings, considering social determinants of maternal health (non-clinical factors affecting health), incorporating diverse maternity care teams that include mental health providers and dietitians, and addressing maternal mental health and substance use disorders. States wishing to participate must apply to the Secretary. The Secretary will evaluate the project's impact on maternal health outcomes (stratified by various demographic factors), spending, and patient experience, and will report findings and recommendations to Congress. The bill also defines key terms such as "maternal mortality" (death during or within a year after pregnancy due to pregnancy-related complications, including suicide or overdose exacerbated by pregnancy), "perinatal" (the period from pregnancy to one year after), and "severe maternal morbidity" (serious health conditions resulting from pregnancy or childbirth).