INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA) – 08/22/2018
CONGRESSWOMAN ALMA S. ADAMS (D-NC) – 09/04/2018
The Maternal CARE Act seeks to end preventable maternal complications and deaths care by using evidence-based quality improvement to protect the health of women and infants during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, and to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. Specifically, it proposes creating two new grant programs:
- Implicit Bias Training Grants would address implicit bias by establishing competitive grants directed to medical schools, nursing schools, and other health professional training programs to provide implicit bias training. Priority will be given to training programs in obstetrics and gynecology.
- Pregnancy Medical Home Demonstration Project: Establishes a demonstration project to assist up to 10 states with implementing and maintaining pregnancy medical home programs where maternal health care providers deliver integrated health care services to pregnant women and new mothers to reduce poor maternal health outcomes, maternal deaths, and racial health disparities.
In addition, this bill will direct the National Academy of Medicine to study and make recommendations for incorporating bias recognition in clinical skills testing for U.S. medical schools.
Co-sponsors S.3363: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Doug Jones (D-AL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Co-sponsor H.R.6698: Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY)