HR 1966119th CongressIn Committee

Mamas and Babies in Underserved Communities Act of 2025

Introduced: Mar 6, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Mamas and Babies in Underserved Communities Act of 2025 would create a new grant program under the Public Health Service Act to expand and improve maternal health care in underserved populations. Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Department of Health and Human Services, the program selects eligible public or nonprofit providers to broaden prenatal, postnatal (infant), and postpartum care, raise care quality, improve outcomes for women and infants, and reduce disparities in access, quality, and health results. Grants emphasize community engagement, cultural and linguistic appropriateness, and limiting administrative spending. Funding would be authorized as needed for 2026–2030.

Key Points

1New grant program (Sec. 317K-1) to expand and improve maternal health care services in underserved communities, covering prenatal care, postnatal care for infants, and postpartum care for mothers; also aims to improve quality and outcomes and reduce disparities.
2Eligible entities are public or nonprofit private health care providers that serve minority, low-income, or medically underserved communities.
3Priority considerations for grants include serving underserved communities, leadership by individuals with lived experience or ties to the communities served, and geographic presence in those communities.
4Grant conditions require culturally and linguistically appropriate care and cap administrative expenses at 10% of grant funds.
5Coordination requirements: grantees must maximize alignment with other federally funded maternal health activities and minimize duplicative efforts; definitions clarify that “postnatal” and “postpartum” cover 12 months after an infant’s birth; funding is authorized as needed for 2026–2030.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Women of reproductive age and infants in medically underserved, minority, or low-income communities, along with the health care providers that serve them.Secondary group/area affected: Community leaders and staff involved in maternal health programs; organizations that serve underserved populations.Additional impacts: Potential improvements in access to prenatal, postnatal, and postpartum care; better health outcomes for mothers and babies; reduced disparities in care quality and outcomes; administrative and coordination considerations for grant management and alignment with other federal maternal health initiatives.

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