§ 254c–1b — Rural Obstetric Network Grants

(a) The Secretary shall award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish collaborative improvement and innovation networks (referred to in this section as “rural obstetric networks”) to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving maternity care and access to care in rural areas, frontier areas, maternity care health professional target areas, or jurisdictions of Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (b) Grants or cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to this section shall be used for the establishment or continuation of collaborative improvement and innovation networks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services in rural areas. Rural obstetric networks established in accordance with this section may— (1) develop a network to improve coordination and increase access to maternal health care and assist pregnant women in the areas described in subsection (a) with accessing and utilizing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services to improve outcomes in birth and maternal mortality and morbidity; (2) identify and implement evidence-based and sustainable delivery models for providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services, including home visiting programs and culturally appropriate care models that reduce health disparities; (3) develop a model for maternal health care collaboration between health care settings to improve access to care in areas described in subsection (a), which may include the use of telehealth; (4) provide training for professionals in health care settings that do not have specialty maternity care; (5) collaborate with academic institutions that can provide regional expertise and help identify barriers to providing maternal health care, including strategies for addressing such barriers; and (6) assess and address disparities in infant and maternal health outcomes, including among racial and ethnic minority populations and underserved populations in such areas described in subsection (a). (c) In this section: (1) The term “eligible entities” means entities providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services in rural areas, frontier areas, or medically underserved areas, or to medically underserved populations or Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations. (2) The term “frontier area” means a frontier county, as defined in section 1395ww(d)(3)(E)(iii)(III) of this title. (3) The terms “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal organization” have the meanings given the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” in section 5304 of title 25. (4) The term “maternity care health professional target area” has the meaning described in section 254e(k)(2) of this title. (d) Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on activities supported by grants awarded under this section, including— (1) a description of activities conducted pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b); and (2) an analysis of the effects of rural obstetric networks on improving maternal and infant health outcomes. (e) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.