Grants to grow the perinatal workforce for Tribal communities

Part D of title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 757 (42 U.S.C. 294f) the following: 758. Tribal perinatal workforce demonstration grants (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or expand programs to recruit, train, and retain maternity care providers, mental and behavioral health care providers acting in accordance with State law, registered dietitians or nutrition professionals (as such term is defined in section 1861(vv)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(vv)(2))), and other perinatal health workers to increase access to culturally appropriate perinatal care in Tribal communities. (b) Use of funds Recipients of grants under this section shall use the grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce by— (1) establishing accredited schools, programs, medical residencies, fellowships, or other education and training opportunities that prepare individuals to practice in an Indian Health Service facility, Tribal health program, urban Indian organization, or other Indian health program; (2) recruiting, training, and retaining individuals for the programs described in paragraph (1), including individuals who— (A) are members of an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act); (B) have demonstrated experience or expertise working with Tribal communities; or (C) have completed training on providing culturally appropriate care to Tribal communities; (3) developing and implementing culturally appropriate workforce training, curricula, mentorship programs, clinical experiences, or other educational activities in partnership with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations; (4) supporting education, training, licensing, certification, or clinical experience for— (A) maternity care providers; (B) mental and behavioral health care providers acting in accordance with State law; (C) registered dietitians or nutrition professionals (as defined in section 1861(vv)(2) of the Social Security Act); (D) midwives who meet, at a minimum, the international definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as established by the International Confederation of Midwives; (E) perinatal health workers; (F) physician assistants; (G) advanced practice registered nurses; and (H) lactation consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; and (5) expanding the capacity of existing accredited schools, programs, medical residencies, or fellowships described in paragraph (1), including by increasing enrollment, expanding clinical training opportunities, and awarding scholarships, fellowships, stipends, or other student support. (c) Prioritization In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that— (1) submit a joint application with, or demonstrate a formal partnership with, an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or urban Indian organization to develop and implement culturally appropriate workforce training, recruitment, and retention strategies; (2) have demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and retaining students, faculty, and health professionals who are members of Indian Tribes; (3) have developed a strategy to recruit and retain students and providers who plan to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332; or (4) have developed a strategy to recruit and retain students and providers who plan to practice in an Indian Health Service facility, Tribal health program, or urban Indian organization. (d) Reporting As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an annual report on the activities conducted through the grant, including— (1) the number and demographics of students participating in the program; (2) the extent to which students participating in the program enter careers in— (A) health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; or (B) Indian Health Service facilities, Tribal health programs, or urban Indian organizations; and (3) the impact of the grant on increasing the availability of culturally appropriate perinatal health services in Tribal communities. (e) Period of grants The period of a grant under this section shall be up to 5 years. (f) Technical assistance The Secretary shall provide, directly or by contract, technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and postgrant period sustainability of the school or program described in subsection (b) that is proposed to be, or is being, established or expanded through the grant. (g) Report by the Secretary Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress, and post on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness of the grant program under this section at increasing the number of perinatal health professionals working in an Indian Health Service facility, a Tribal facility, or an urban Indian organization. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity In this section, the term eligible entity means— (A) an institution of higher education; (B) an accredited school or program that provides education and training for maternity care providers, mental and behavioral health care providers, registered dietitians or nutrition professionals, or other perinatal health professionals; (C) a teaching health center or graduate medical education program; (D) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act); (E) an urban Indian organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act); or (F) a consortium of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E). (2) Maternity care provider The term maternity care provider means a health care provider who is a physician, physician assistant midwife who meets at a minimum the international definition of a midwife and global standards for midwifery education as established by the International Confederation of Midwives, advanced practice registered nurse, or a lactation consultant certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, and has a focus on maternal or perinatal health. (3) Perinatal health worker The term perinatal health worker means a nonclinical health worker focused on maternal or perinatal health, such as a doula, community health worker, peer supporter, lactation educator or counselor, nutritionist or dietitian, childbirth educator, social worker, home visitor, patient navigator or coordinator, or language interpreter. (i) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032..