Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
- Committees
- Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 6, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the U.S. by bolstering state-level review processes, improving data quality, and ensuring widespread access to prevention best practices through increased federal investment.
What it actually does
This bill reauthorizes and significantly increases funding for State-based maternal mortality review committees, extending their support through fiscal year 2029. It also mandates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) annually disseminate best practices for preventing maternal mortality and morbidity to hospitals, professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives, while refining data collection and committee composition requirements.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this reauthorization and substantial funding increase are critical to address the ongoing maternal mortality crisis, enabling states to strengthen their review processes, improve data accuracy, and implement effective prevention strategies based on the latest evidence. They emphasize the importance of consistent federal support for these vital public health initiatives.
Opponents contend
Given the bill's focus on public health and reauthorization of an existing program, organized opposition is unlikely. However, some fiscal conservatives might question the magnitude of the funding increase or advocate for more stringent oversight to ensure efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars.
The bill is concise and clearly written, allowing for a thorough understanding of its provisions within a short reading time.
Section 2(a)
Strengthening Maternal Mortality Review Committee Expertise and Data Quality
This provision amends the Public Health Service Act to explicitly include obstetricians and gynecologists among the clinical specialties represented on State-based maternal mortality review committees. It also refines data collection requirements, clarifying that medical records should be used 'if available' and mandating coordination with death certifiers to improve the quality and accuracy of death records, including amending cause-of-death information when appropriate.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that explicitly including obstetricians and gynecologists ensures critical clinical expertise is present on review committees, leading to more accurate and actionable findings. Improving death record quality through coordination with certifiers is seen as essential for robust data analysis and effective prevention strategies.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against these technical improvements, as they are generally viewed as enhancing the effectiveness of existing public health infrastructure.
Tradeoffs
The primary tension might be the administrative burden on death certifiers to coordinate more closely with review committees, though the benefit of improved data quality is generally seen as outweighing this.
Section 2(b)
Mandating Annual Dissemination of Maternal Mortality Prevention Best Practices
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to consult with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and disseminate best practices for preventing maternal mortality and morbidity. These best practices must consider and reflect those identified through other relevant federal maternal health programs and be disseminated to hospitals, state professional society groups, and perinatal quality collaboratives at least once per fiscal year.
Section 2(c)
Reauthorization and Increased Funding for Maternal Mortality Prevention Programs
This provision reauthorizes Section 317K of the Public Health Service Act, which supports State-based maternal mortality review committees. It significantly increases the authorized appropriations from $58,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, providing a substantial boost in federal support for these critical programs.