The Data to Save Moms Act seeks to significantly improve maternal health outcomes by enhancing data collection, quality measures, and community engagement. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) to promote representative community engagement. These grants will help committees diversify their membership, prioritize individuals with lived experiences, and conduct outreach to racial and ethnic minority groups, while also addressing barriers to participation like transportation and compensation. The bill expands the scope of MMRC reviews to include cases of severe maternal morbidity and deaths related to mental health conditions or substance use disorders during or up to one year postpartum. It also requires MMRCs to consult with local community-based organizations to consider nonclinical factors contributing to pregnancy-related deaths. Furthermore, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, must review existing maternal health data collection processes and quality measures, making recommendations for improvement. This review will involve extensive consultation with a diverse group of stakeholders, including pregnant and postpartum individuals, community-based organizations, and maternity care providers, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic minority groups. Key topics for review include State and Tribal data collection practices, the timeliness of death certificate amendments, EHR data on demographics, and the effectiveness of MMRC training on bias and racism. The review will also assess the consideration of social determinants of maternal health and the implementation of actionable recommendations by MMRCs. A dedicated section mandates a comprehensive study on maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and adverse perinatal outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals . This study, conducted by an independent research organization or Tribal Epidemiology Center, will examine unique causes, listen to community stories, and differentiate outcomes across various care settings, including those operated by the Indian Health Service. It will also consider historical mistreatment, IHS funding, and culturally appropriate care. Finally, the bill establishes a grant program for minority-serving institutions to research specific aspects of the maternal health crisis among racial and ethnic minority groups. This research may include understanding low maternal mortality rates among Hispanic individuals, assessing disparities within Hispanic subgroups, and promoting racial and ethnic diversity in lactation education. The bill defines key terms such as "maternity care provider," "perinatal health worker," "pregnancy-associated death," and "severe maternal morbidity" to ensure clarity in its implementation.
The Data to Save Moms Act seeks to significantly improve maternal health outcomes by enhancing data collection, quality measures, and community engagement. It authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) to promote representative community engagement. These grants will help committees diversify their membership, prioritize individuals with lived experiences, and conduct outreach to racial and ethnic minority groups, while also addressing barriers to participation like transportation and compensation. The bill expands the scope of MMRC reviews to include cases of severe maternal morbidity and deaths related to mental health conditions or substance use disorders during or up to one year postpartum. It also requires MMRCs to consult with local community-based organizations to consider nonclinical factors contributing to pregnancy-related deaths. Furthermore, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, must review existing maternal health data collection processes and quality measures, making recommendations for improvement. This review will involve extensive consultation with a diverse group of stakeholders, including pregnant and postpartum individuals, community-based organizations, and maternity care providers, with a particular focus on racial and ethnic minority groups. Key topics for review include State and Tribal data collection practices, the timeliness of death certificate amendments, EHR data on demographics, and the effectiveness of MMRC training on bias and racism. The review will also assess the consideration of social determinants of maternal health and the implementation of actionable recommendations by MMRCs. A dedicated section mandates a comprehensive study on maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and adverse perinatal outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals . This study, conducted by an independent research organization or Tribal Epidemiology Center, will examine unique causes, listen to community stories, and differentiate outcomes across various care settings, including those operated by the Indian Health Service. It will also consider historical mistreatment, IHS funding, and culturally appropriate care. Finally, the bill establishes a grant program for minority-serving institutions to research specific aspects of the maternal health crisis among racial and ethnic minority groups. This research may include understanding low maternal mortality rates among Hispanic individuals, assessing disparities within Hispanic subgroups, and promoting racial and ethnic diversity in lactation education. The bill defines key terms such as "maternity care provider," "perinatal health worker," "pregnancy-associated death," and "severe maternal morbidity" to ensure clarity in its implementation.