As part of the Build Back Better Act, the Energy and Commerce Committee passed portions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, which seeks to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health outcomes and increase access to mental health care for pregnant women and new moms. Working with Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL), APA Services endorsed and advocated for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 as part of the Leadership Institute for Women in psychology program earlier this year.
The Build Back Better Act contains over $1 billion in maternal health investments and includes provisions from the Social Determinants for Moms Act, Kira Johnson Act, Perinatal Workforce Act, Moms Matter Act, Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, Data to Save Moms Act, Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act, and Tech to Save Moms Act. The Build Back Better Act also includes a mandatory provision that will make federal funds permanently available for states to spend on expanded postpartum Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage to one year in every state, with full state plan benefits throughout pregnancy and the yearlong postpartum period.
For more information, contact Aaron Bishop.