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.