HHS agency directives

(a) Guidance to States (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue and disseminate guidance to States to educate providers, managed care entities, and other insurers about the value and process of delivering respectful maternal health care through diverse and multidisciplinary care provider models. (2) Contents The guidance required by paragraph (1) shall address how States can encourage and incentivize hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, freestanding birth centers, other maternity care provider groups, managed care entities, and other insurers— (A) to recruit and retain maternity care providers, mental and behavioral health care providers acting in accordance with State law, and 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)))— (i) from racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse backgrounds; (ii) with experience practicing in racially and ethnically diverse communities; and (iii) who have undergone training on implicit bias and racism; (B) to incorporate into maternity care teams— (i) 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; (ii) perinatal health workers; (iii) physician assistants; (iv) advanced practice registered nurses; and (v) lactation consultants certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; (C) to provide collaborative, culturally and linguistically congruent care; and (D) to provide opportunities for individuals enrolled in accredited midwifery education programs to participate in job shadowing with maternity care teams in hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, and freestanding birth centers. (b) Study on respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care (1) Study The Secretary of Health and Human Services acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (in this subsection referred to as the Secretary) shall conduct a study on best practices in respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care. (2) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) complete the study required by paragraph (1); (B) submit to the Congress and make publicly available a report on the results of such study; and (C) include in such report— (i) a compendium of examples of hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, freestanding birth centers, other maternity care provider groups, managed care entities, and other insurers that are delivering respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternal health care; (ii) a compendium of examples of hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, freestanding birth centers, other maternity care provider groups, managed care entities, and other insurers that have made progress in reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes and improving birthing experiences for pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups; and (iii) recommendations to hospitals, health systems, midwifery practices, freestanding birth centers, other maternity care provider groups, managed care entities, and other insurers, for best practices in respectful and culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care.