Momnibus Act

758. Perinatal workforce grants

(a) In general. The Secretary shall award grants to entities to establish or expand programs described in subsection (b) to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce.

(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 or programs that provide education and training to individuals seeking appropriate licensing and certification as—

(A) physician assistants who will complete clinical training in the field of maternal and perinatal health;

(B) perinatal health workers; or

(C) 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; and

(2) expanding the capacity of existing accredited schools or programs described in paragraph (1), for the purposes of increasing the number of students enrolled in such accredited schools or programs, such as by awarding scholarships for students (including students from racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse backgrounds).

(c) Prioritization. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to a school or program described in subsection (b) that—

(1) has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups;

(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a diverse pool of students into the school or program described in subsection (b) that is supported by funds received through the grant, particularly from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations;

(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332;

(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain students who plan to practice in an area with significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, to the extent practicable; and

(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all students within the school or program described in subsection (b) a bias, racism, or discrimination training program that includes training on implicit bias and racism.

(d) Reporting. As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section for a school or program described in subsection (b), an entity shall agree to 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 school or program;

(2) the extent to which students in the school or program are entering careers in—

(A) health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and

(B) areas with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes, to the extent such data are available; and

(3) whether the school or program has included in the standard curriculum for all students a bias, racism, or discrimination training program that includes explicit and implicit bias, and if so the effectiveness of such training program.

(e) Period of grants. The period of a grant under this section shall be up to 5 years.

(f) Application. To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection (c).

(g) 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.

(h) Report by the Secretary. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress, and post on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness of the grant program under this section at—

(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority groups;

(2) increasing the number of health professionals described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of subsection (b)(1) from racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations;

(3) increasing the number of such health professionals working in health professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and

(4) increasing the number of such health professionals working in areas with significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, to the extent such data are available.

(i) Definition. In this section, the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1).

(j) Authorization of appropriations. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.