What does Preamble of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This bill is formally titled 'A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, and for other purposes.'

What does SHORT TITLE. of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Perinatal Workforce Act.

What does HHS AGENCY DIRECTIVES. of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This section requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states within two years of enactment, educating providers on respectful maternal health care. The guidance should address encouraging hospitals and insurers to recruit and retain diverse maternity care providers, including those with experience in diverse communities and implicit bias training. The guidance also encourages incorporating specific roles into maternity care teams, such as midwives, perinatal health workers, and lactation consultants. States are encouraged to promote collaborative, culturally and linguistically congruent care. The Secretary is also directed to conduct a study on best practices in respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care, also within two years. The study's results will be compiled into a public report including examples of successful programs and recommendations for improvement. The report will highlight entities delivering respectful and culturally congruent care and those reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes.

What does GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE PERINATAL WORKFORCE. of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This section amends Title VII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a Perinatal Workforce Grants program. The Secretary will award grants to entities to establish or expand programs focused on growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce. Eligible programs include accredited schools or programs providing education and training for physician assistants, perinatal health workers, and midwives. Priority will be given to programs demonstrating commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups. Recipients must submit annual reports on program activities, including student demographics and career placement. Grants under this section can be up to 5 years in duration. The Secretary will provide technical assistance to grant applicants and recipients. The Secretary is required to report to Congress on the program’s effectiveness in recruiting diverse students and increasing the number of perinatal health professionals.

What does GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE NURSING WORKFORCE IN MATERNAL of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This section amends Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a Perinatal Nursing Workforce Grants program. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will award grants to schools of nursing to grow and diversify the perinatal nursing workforce. Grants must be used to provide scholarships to students pursuing careers as nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, or clinical nurse specialists with a focus on maternal and perinatal health. Priority for grant awards will be given to schools demonstrating strategies for recruiting and retaining a diverse student pool, partnering with healthcare providers in shortage areas, and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health. Recipients are required to submit annual reports detailing grant activities, including student demographics and career placement data. Grants can be up to five years in duration. The Secretary is authorized to provide technical assistance to schools applying for or receiving grants. The Secretary will submit a report to Congress within four years of enactment evaluating the program's effectiveness in recruiting and increasing advanced practice registered nurses in maternal and perinatal health roles, particularly among underserved populations and in shortage areas.

What does GAO REPORT. of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This section mandates that the Comptroller General of the United States submit a report to Congress on barriers to maternal health education and access to care. The initial report is due within two years of the Act's enactment, with subsequent reports required every five years. The report must assess barriers to midwifery education programs and related health professional careers, particularly for low-income women and women from racial and ethnic minority groups. The report will assess barriers preventing midwives from meeting international standards and offer recommendations. The report will assess disparities in access to maternity care providers, mental health providers, dietitians, and perinatal health workers, stratified by various factors. The report must include recommendations to promote greater equity in compensation for perinatal health workers, especially those from diverse backgrounds.

What does DEFINITIONS. of Perinatal Workforce Act do?

This section defines terms used within the Act. “Culturally and linguistically congruent” refers to care aligned with the values, beliefs, language, and practices of the health care consumer and stakeholders. A “maternity care provider” is defined as a healthcare professional with a focus on maternal or perinatal health, including physicians, midwives, advanced practice nurses, doulas, and lactation consultants. “Perinatal health worker” includes nonclinical roles focused on maternal or perinatal health, such as doulas, community health workers, and lactation educators. “Postpartum” is defined as the one-year period following the last day of pregnancy. “Racial and ethnic minority group” is defined by section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act.

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Perinatal Workforce Act

Last updated: 3/25/2026 · Introduced: 3/25/2026

Author: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill directs the Health and Human Services Secretary to provide guidance to states on respectful maternal health care, emphasizing diversity in providers and culturally congruent care.
It establishes a Perinatal Workforce Grants program to fund initiatives that expand education and training for perinatal health professionals, prioritizing programs serving racial and ethnic minority groups.
The bill creates a Perinatal Nursing Workforce Grants program to provide scholarships to students pursuing careers as advanced practice nurses specializing in maternal and perinatal health, with a focus on diversity and underserved areas.
It requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on barriers to maternal health education and access to care, including disparities in compensation for perinatal health workers.
The bill defines key terms related to maternal health care, including 'culturally and linguistically congruent' care and various perinatal health worker roles.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 7973(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

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