S. 992 — NEWBORN Act

This section establishes an infant mortality pilot grant program as new subsection (e) of Section 330H of the Public Health Service Act (i.e., the Healthy Start program). (As background: Healthy Start provides grants to eligible entities to develop comprehensive systems of care aimed at reducing infant mortality rates and improving perinatal outcomes in high-risk communities.) The Secretary, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator, awards grants of up to five years to eligible entities (i.e., county, city, territorial, Tribal, or State health departments), giving preference to those serving any of the 50 counties or county groups with the highest infant mortality rates (based on the most recent three years of data) and addressing birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death, maternal pregnancy complications, or infant injuries. Grant funds may be used to (A) develop community needs plans and strategies; (B) provide maternal outreach; (C) implement standardized service systems such as counseling on infant care, postpartum care, premature delivery prevention, and programs for smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment, nutrition, postpartum depression, domestic violence, dental care, and parenting; (D) establish rural outreach; (E) conduct public education campaigns on preterm birth prevention and infant mortality; (F) support other planned activities; and (G) coordinate with local health departments and infant mortality reduction entities (with no more than 10% of funds for evaluation). Grantees must submit annual reports on program methodology, outcomes, and statistics to enable the Secretary to evaluate the pilots. The section authorizes $10 million for the new program for each of FY2025 through FY2029 and makes conforming amendments, including redesignating prior subsections (e) and (f) as (f) and (g); retitling and limiting the general authorization of appropriations (now subsection (f)(1)) to the program other than subsection (e); and updating cross-references.