Data to Save Moms Act

Bill Summary: Data to Save Moms Act (S. 4187)

Overview

The Data to Save Moms Act is a legislative proposal designed to improve the collection, quality, and analysis of maternal health data in the United States. The primary intent of the bill is to address the maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity crisis, with a specific focus on reducing disparities experienced by racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

Key Provisions

1. Enhancing Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs)

The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to provide more robust support for MMRCs at the state, tribal, and urban Indian organization levels:
* Community Engagement: Grants will be provided to include diverse community members—including those with non-clinical experiences and personal histories of maternal morbidity—in the review process.
* Removing Barriers: Funds may be used for training, transportation, and compensation to ensure community members can participate.
* Broadened Scope: MMRCs are encouraged to review cases of severe maternal morbidity and deaths resulting from suicide, overdose, or mental health conditions aggravated by pregnancy.
* Holistic Review: The bill mandates the consideration of "non-clinical factors" (social determinants of health) and requires consultation with community-based organizations.

2. Federal Review of Data and Quality Measures

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), via CMS and AHRQ, is tasked with reviewing existing maternal health data processes and quality measures. Key areas of focus include:
* Identifying Gaps: Analyzing barriers to correlating maternal outcomes with race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
* Evaluating Quality: Assessing the effectiveness of current maternity care quality measures and comparing them to international standards.
* Reporting: A comprehensive report with recommendations for improvement must be submitted to Congress within one year of enactment.

3. Targeted Research and Studies

The bill establishes specific research initiatives to address underserved populations:
* American Indian and Alaska Native Study: A mandated comprehensive study (conducted by an independent research organization or Tribal Epidemiology Center) to examine unique causes of maternal mortality and the impact of historical mistreatment.
* Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Grants: A grant program for research centers and health schools at MSIs to study the maternal health crisis among minority groups, including a specific look at data misclassification among Hispanic individuals.

Affected Parties

• Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals: Especially those from racial and ethnic minority groups who may see improvements in care based on better data.
• Public Health Officials: State and Tribal Maternal Mortality Review Committees will have new funding and guidelines.
• Academic Institutions: Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and Tribal Epidemiology Centers will be eligible for new research grants.
• Healthcare Providers: Hospitals, midwives, and doulas will be part of the broader effort to standardize quality measures.

Funding and Timelines

• MMRC Community Engagement: $10 million authorized annually from FY 2027 through 2031 (with at least $1.5 million reserved specifically for Tribal/Urban Indian organizations).
• AI/AN Study: $2 million authorized annually from FY 2027 through 2029.
• MSI Research Grants: $10 million authorized annually from FY 2027 through 2031.
• Reporting Deadlines: The HHS quality measure report is due within 1 year; the AI/AN study report is due within 3 years of enactment.