The "Social Determinants for Moms Act" seeks to eliminate maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States by focusing on the social determinants of health. It mandates the creation of a Task Force to Address the United States Maternal Health Crisis , to be convened by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This task force will comprise representatives from various federal agencies, including Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency, alongside patient advocates and community leaders, to develop comprehensive strategies and coordinate efforts. The Task Force's responsibilities include addressing critical issues such as barriers to prenatal and postpartum care, access to safe housing, healthy food in food deserts, environmental impacts on health, and the effects of intimate partner violence. It will also be required to submit annual reports to Congress, detailing its progress, actions taken by member agencies, and recommendations for federal funding and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the bill authorizes sustained funding through grants to eligible entities, including community-based organizations and Tribal organizations. These grants will support initiatives in areas with high rates of maternal mortality and poverty, focusing on nonclinical factors like housing, transportation, nutrition, employment, and environmental conditions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will prioritize grant awards to entities operating in high-need areas and provide technical assistance to ensure program sustainability. The bill authorizes $100,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for these grant programs.
The "Social Determinants for Moms Act" seeks to eliminate maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health disparities in the United States by focusing on the social determinants of health. It mandates the creation of a Task Force to Address the United States Maternal Health Crisis , to be convened by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This task force will comprise representatives from various federal agencies, including Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency, alongside patient advocates and community leaders, to develop comprehensive strategies and coordinate efforts. The Task Force's responsibilities include addressing critical issues such as barriers to prenatal and postpartum care, access to safe housing, healthy food in food deserts, environmental impacts on health, and the effects of intimate partner violence. It will also be required to submit annual reports to Congress, detailing its progress, actions taken by member agencies, and recommendations for federal funding and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, the bill authorizes sustained funding through grants to eligible entities, including community-based organizations and Tribal organizations. These grants will support initiatives in areas with high rates of maternal mortality and poverty, focusing on nonclinical factors like housing, transportation, nutrition, employment, and environmental conditions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will prioritize grant awards to entities operating in high-need areas and provide technical assistance to ensure program sustainability. The bill authorizes $100,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for these grant programs.