Federal Policy
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Our Letter to the Make America Healthy Again Caucus
In December 2024, a group of Republican senators launched the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus to address primary care access, disease prevention, and the role of nutrition in health. The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health responded with a formal letter, urging the caucus to include maternal health priorities—such as testing for nutritional deficiencies,…
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Our Comments on the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) Draft Recommendations
On January 7, 2025, Joy Burkhard, CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, delivered oral comments at the Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality (ACIMM) regarding its draft recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. She emphasized the need for mandatory maternal depression and anxiety screening, workforce expansion to address…
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CMS Announces 15 States Selected for Transforming Maternal Health “TMaH” Model
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) recently announced the 15 states selected for its 10-year Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model, aimed at improving maternal care, expanding access, and addressing disparities through Medicaid programs.
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HHS Awards $10 Million to Maternal Mental Health Grantees
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is advancing maternal mental health through a $10 million grant to community-based programs, building on the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act and the White House Blueprint on Maternal Health.
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Congressional Year-End Federal Funding Update: How the Continuing Resolution Impacts Maternal Health
Recent continuing resolutions passed by Congress to avert a government shutdown have significant implications for maternal health funding, cutting support for maternal mortality initiatives while maintaining critical programs for maternal substance use and WIC services.
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CMS Announces New Policies to Reduce Maternal Mortality
In November 2024 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) final rule*. This rule establishes the first-ever maternal health and safety standards for hospitals while addressing barriers to healthcare for underserved communities, including formerly incarcerated individuals.
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HHS Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health & Releases Hotline Advertising Campaign
On November 5th, 2024 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health. This Task Force was formed in 2022 as a part of the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act, which was championed by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. According to…
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CMS’s FAQ Clarifies its Peer Support Services Policy
In June 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document about Medicaid and CHIP coverage of peer support services, as detailed in SMD letter #07-011 from August 15, 2007.
