Executive Order and New Actions to Advance Women’s Health Research and Innovation

March 29, 2024 by Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Policy Team in POLICY

On March 18, the Biden Administration signed a new Executive Order outlining directives to ensure women’s health is integrated into the federal research portfolio and budget. More than 20 new actions and commitments by federal agencies to advance women's health research were included in this announcement. This follows the First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s recent announcement of $100 million in women’s health funding through Sprint for Women’s Health, which “intends to fundamentally change the trajectory of women’s health care research and radically accelerate the next generation of discoveries”.

HHS Announces Final Phase Winners in Challenge to Enhance Racial Equity in Postpartum Care

March 13, 2024 by Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Policy Team in POLICY

In an announcement released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded winners in the final phase of the $1.8 million HHS Racial Equity in Postpartum Care Challenge. This nationwide endeavor, spearheaded by the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), aims to advance equity in postpartum care for Black or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

New Bill Introduced to Support Military Maternal Mental Health

March 06, 2024 by Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Policy Team in POLICY

On January 25th 2024, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral ‘‘Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act’’ or the ‘‘MOMS Act” (H.R.7087). A companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)(S.3641).

HHS Launches Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative

March 01, 2024 by Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health Policy Team in POLICY

On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the Secretary's Postpartum Maternal Health Collaborative. This groundbreaking initiative, announced by Secretary Xavier Becerra, aims to address the critical issue of postpartum mortality by fostering collaboration among state leaders, community partners, and federal experts.

2020 Mom’s Federal Policy Work in 2022: A Year in Review

November 23, 2022 by Sarah Johanek, MPH in POLICY

2022 was an important year for both federal mental health and maternal health policy. 2020 Mom led and supported critical pieces of legislation, engaged with key federal agencies, including the White House and CDC, and continued to serve as a top subject matter expert in not only maternal mental health policy, but also mental health parity and peer support.

An Open Letter to CMS: Our Analysis of the Maternity Care Action Plan

September 06, 2022 by Joy Burkhard, MBA, and Sarah Johanek, MPH in POLICY

On July 24th, 2022, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Maternity Care Action Plan to support the implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Mental Health Crisis. Read our analysis of this White House’s Blueprint here. The Maternity Care Action Plan aims to decrease inequities among pregnant people and improve health outcomes.

An Open Letter to the White House: Our Analysis of Maternal Mental Health Actions in the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis

July 20, 2022 by Joy Burkhard, MBA, and Sarah Johanek, MPH in POLICY

On June 24th, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration released the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, outlining the administration’s vision for the United States to be “considered the best country in the world to have a baby.”