Moms Matter Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 18, 2026
Bottom line
The Moms Matter Act aims to enhance access to maternal mental health and substance use disorder services and expand the specialized healthcare workforce, particularly for populations facing significant health disparities.
What it actually does
This bill establishes two new grant programs under the Department of Health and Human Services. The first program provides grants to eligible entities to improve maternal mental health and substance use disorder care, with a focus on underserved demographic groups. The second program offers grants to educational institutions to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is a crucial step in addressing the national maternal mortality and morbidity crisis, which disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minority groups. They contend that by integrating mental health care into maternity services and building a more diverse and robust workforce, the bill will improve outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals and reduce health disparities.
Opponents contend
While direct opposition to the bill's core goals of improving maternal health is not typically raised, some fiscal conservatives might express concerns about the overall level of new federal spending authorized by the bill, advocating for alternative funding mechanisms or more targeted approaches.
The bill is relatively short and clearly structured, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 2(a)
Establishes Maternal Mental Health Equity Grant Program
This provision directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to create a grant program. The grants will be awarded to eligible entities to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, specifically prioritizing demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
Supporters argue
Proponents argue that this program directly targets critical gaps in maternal mental health care, particularly for underserved populations, which will lead to better health outcomes and reduce existing disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the establishment of grant programs to address public health crises, though some might question the scope or specific funding levels.
Tradeoffs
The bill navigates the tension between providing broad support for maternal mental health and ensuring that resources are specifically directed to the most vulnerable and disproportionately affected demographic groups.
Section 2(d)
Specifies Allowable Uses for Maternal Mental Health Equity Grant Funds
This subsection outlines a comprehensive list of activities for which grant funds can be used. These include establishing or expanding maternity care programs that integrate mental health, group prenatal/postpartum care, providing direct services and referrals for individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders, addressing stigma, raising awareness, preventing suicide/self-harm, supporting freestanding birth centers, training maternity care providers, developing a provider directory, and improving coordination between providers.
Section 3 (adding new Section 758 to PHS Act)
Establishes Grants to Grow and Diversify the Maternal Mental and Behavioral Health Care Workforce
This section amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new grant program. The Secretary of HHS is authorized to award grants to entities to establish or expand educational programs that train individuals to become licensed or certified mental or behavioral health care providers specializing in maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders. The goal is to increase the number and diversity of these specialized professionals.
Section 3 (new Section 758(c) of PHS Act)
Prioritization Criteria for Workforce Development Grants
This provision establishes specific criteria for prioritizing grant awards under the workforce development program. Priority is given to entities that demonstrate a commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups, have strategies to recruit diverse students who plan to practice in health professional shortage areas or areas with significant maternal health disparities, and include bias, racism, or discrimination training (including implicit bias) in their standard curriculum.