H.R. 8317 — Tech to Save Moms Act

This section adds a new priority area under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) for testing Medicaid (Title XIX) models that provide for the adoption and use of telehealth tools to screen, monitor, and manage common health complications during pregnancy and for up to a 1-year postpartum period. The amendment takes effect 1 year after enactment.

This section establishes a new grant program under section 330Q of the Public Health Service Act to evaluate, develop, and expand technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models (i.e., virtual training platforms such as Project ECHO) to improve maternal health outcomes beginning not later than one year after enactment. Grants are limited to one 5-year award to an eligible entity (i.e., one that provides or supports maternal health care services) prioritizing health professional shortage areas, areas with high maternal mortality or severe morbidity, rural and underserved areas, areas with maternal health disparities, and medically underserved populations including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Grant funds must be used to (1) train maternal health providers, students, and similar professionals on increasing safety and quality, implicit bias, maternal mental health and substance use disorders, maternity care during public health emergencies, social determinants of health risks, and remote patient monitoring for pregnancy complications; (2) evaluate models' effects on care access, quality, patient health outcomes, and care experiences; (3) develop best-practice measures; and (4) study impacts on patients and providers. Permissible uses include technology for distance learning, technical support, secure health information exchange, and provider support; applications must assure data collection on maternal outcomes, access, quality, and provider retention. The Secretary must provide technical assistance on model development and sustainability, coordinate broadband access, and develop a strategic research and evaluation plan. Authorizes $6 million annually for FY2027 through FY2031; requires grantee reports to the Secretary and a Secretary report to Congress within four years detailing grants, evaluations, assistance, activities, outcomes, and best practices.

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award not more than one five-year grant, beginning not later than one year after enactment, to an eligible entity to reduce maternal health disparities by increasing access to digital tools related to maternal health care, including provider-facing technologies such as early warning systems and clinical decision support mechanisms. In awarding the grant, the Secretary must prioritize entities in areas with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; health professional shortage areas, rural areas, or underserved areas; or those promoting technology addressing maternal health disparities. The Secretary must provide technical assistance to the grantee on digital tool development, use, evaluation, and sustainability and submit to Congress, not later than four years after enactment, a report evaluating the grants' effectiveness in improving maternal health outcomes (particularly for racial and ethnic minorities), with recommendations for new technology-focused grant programs and on topics including maternal telehealth reimbursement, privacy safeguards, data-sharing barriers with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and COVID-19 telehealth lessons. The section authorizes $6 million for each of FY2027 through FY2031.

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, not later than 60 days after enactment, to seek an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the use of technology (including artificial intelligence) and patient monitoring devices (including pulse oximeters) in maternity care. The study must examine such uses and their effects on racial and ethnic biases in maternal health care; best practices to reduce and prevent those biases; best practices for pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups; and privacy and security safeguards—with the National Academies required to submit a report to Congress not later than 24 months after enactment.

This section establishes definitions for terms used in the Act, including (1) maternal mortality, meaning a death occurring during or within one year after pregnancy caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth complications, including suicide, overdose, or other death resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder attributed to or aggravated by such complications; (2) maternity care provider, meaning a health care provider focused on maternal or perinatal health who is a physician, physician assistant, qualifying midwife, advanced practice registered nurse, state-accredited doula eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, or certified lactation consultant; (3) postpartum, meaning the one-year period beginning on the last day of pregnancy; (4) racial and ethnic minority group, having the meaning given in section 1707(g)(1) of the Public Health Service Act; and (5) severe maternal morbidity, meaning a health condition, including mental health conditions and substance use disorders, attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant short-term or long-term health consequences.