Improving access to prenatal and postnatal telehealth care

(a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to purchase equipment necessary for carrying out at-home telehealth visits for screening, monitoring, and management of prenatal and postnatal care for the purpose of improving maternal and infant health outcomes, and reducing maternal mortality, by improving access to care in rural areas, frontier counties, medically underserved areas, or jurisdictions of Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. (b) Ineligible entities An entity shall be ineligible to receive a grant or enter into a cooperative agreement under this section if the entity or any affiliate, subsidiary, successor, or clinic thereof— (1) performs, induces, refers for, or counsels in favor of abortions; or (2) provides financial support to any other entity that conducts any activity described in paragraph (1). (c) Use of funds A recipient of a grant or cooperative agreement under this section shall use the award funds as described in subsection (a), which may include purchasing or providing equipment necessary for carrying out at-home telehealth visits (such as remote physiologic devices and related services, including pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, scales, and blood glucose monitors) to screen, monitor, and manage prenatal and postnatal care at home by means of telehealth visits and services for the purpose described in subsection (a). (d) Report to Congress Not later than September 30, 2029, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on activities supported through grants and cooperative agreements under this section, including— (1) a description of the activities conducted pursuant to such grants and cooperative agreements; and (2) an analysis of the effects of such grants and cooperative agreements on improving prenatal and postnatal care in areas and jurisdictions described in subsection (a). (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an entity that provides prenatal care, labor care, birthing, or postpartum care services in a rural area, a frontier county, a medically underserved area, or the jurisdiction of an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization. (2) Frontier county The term frontier county has the meaning given such term in section 1886(d)(3)(E)(iii)(III) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(3)(E)(iii)(III)). (3) Indian tribe; tribal organization The terms Indian Tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given such terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (4) Medically underserved area The term medically underserved area means a health professional shortage area designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e). (5) Rural area The term rural area has the meaning given such term in section 330J(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c–15(e)). (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (f) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.