WELLS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7830
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-12T19:04:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The WELLS Act (Women Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety Act) aims to enhance maternal health safety by requiring hospitals to create detailed discharge plans for pregnant individuals who may be sent home before giving birth. It also expands training programs for healthcare providers in rural areas, establishes research on effective training methods, and creates a public dashboard to track maternal health data. Overall, the bill seeks to reduce risks associated with preterm discharge, address racial biases in care, and improve outcomes for pregnant people, particularly in underserved regions.
Key Provisions
- Discharge Planning Requirements (Section 2): Starting January 1, 2027, hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals participating in Medicare must develop, document, and discuss a discharge plan for any pregnant individual admitted with signs of labor (e.g., contractions) who is expected to be discharged before delivery. The plan must include:
- A clinical justification (medical reason) for the discharge, based on the treating doctor's judgment.
- An assessment of travel time and distance from the individual's home to the hospital.
- Verification of reliable transportation to the hospital.
- Identification of a backup hospital or facility for labor and delivery services.
- Review and approval by a qualified medical professional (defined by federal regulations).
- Confirmation that the individual (or their representative) received the information in their primary language and understands it.
This applies to all admitted pregnant individuals, regardless of Medicare eligibility, and the plan must be added to their medical record.
- Enhancements to Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Training Grants (Section 3): Amends existing federal grants under the Public Health Service Act for training healthcare providers in rural areas on maternal and obstetric care. Key additions include:
- Requirement to include racial bias training in grant-funded programs.
- Establishment of minimum performance milestones starting in fiscal year 2027, such as targets for the percentage of staff trained or receiving refresher training.
- Expanded annual reporting to Congress and the public, including lists of grant recipients, funding amounts, training formats (e.g., in-person or virtual), geographical coverage, number of providers trained, and patient-level metrics like clinical outcomes, patient experiences, and reductions in racial disparities.
- Multi-Center Implementation Science Initiative (Section 4): Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health, to create a program evaluating different training models for healthcare professionals (e.g., in-person, virtual, simulation-based). The evaluation will assess impacts on provider behavior, patient outcomes, and reductions in maternal health disparities.
- Maternal Health Dashboard (Section 5): Requires HHS to develop and maintain a public online dashboard aggregating maternal health data from various federal agencies. It will include metrics on maternal mortality and severe complications, preterm discharge outcomes, and federal investments in maternal health research.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1866 of the Social Security Act (which governs Medicare provider conditions of participation) by adding a new requirement for discharge planning specific to pregnant individuals, building on but not replacing general discharge rules.
- Modifies Section 764 of the Public Health Service Act (rural maternal care training grants) by mandating racial bias training, performance milestones, and more detailed reporting, while redesignating another section for clarity.
- Introduces entirely new initiatives (Sections 4 and 5) without direct amendments to prior laws, creating fresh federal programs for research and data transparency.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will face increased administrative responsibilities, including grant oversight, performance tracking, research coordination, and dashboard maintenance, potentially requiring additional funding and staff. Medicare enforcement may involve audits or penalties for non-compliant hospitals.
- On Citizens: Pregnant individuals, especially in rural or low-resource areas, could benefit from safer discharge processes, reduced travel risks during labor, and culturally sensitive care, potentially lowering maternal mortality and morbidity rates. However, it may not directly affect non-Medicare patients unless hospitals extend practices broadly.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. healthcare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities: Must comply with new planning and documentation rules to maintain Medicare participation, affecting operations and costs, particularly in rural settings.
- Pregnant Individuals and Families: Primary beneficiaries through improved safety nets, language-accessible information, and reduced disparities in care.
- Healthcare Providers: Gain access to enhanced training on bias and maternal care, with accountability via milestones; rural providers may see more federal support.
- Federal Agencies (e.g., HHS, Medicare): Responsible for implementation, evaluation, and reporting.
- Rural and Underserved Communities: Targeted for training and data improvements to address access gaps.
- Advocacy Groups and Congress: Involved in monitoring outcomes and funding.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens patient protections under Medicare without overriding doctors' clinical judgments, but could lead to litigation over "qualified medical professional" definitions or enforcement of language access. The rule of construction preserves existing discharge laws, avoiding conflicts.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; aligns with Congress's authority over federal healthcare programs like Medicare and public health grants.
- Political: Highlights focus on maternal health equity, racial bias in medicine, and rural access—potentially bipartisan appeal but may spark debates on federal overreach into hospital operations or added costs (not specified in the bill). Enhanced reporting promotes transparency, aiding future policy adjustments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (31)
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-05: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Women Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (9 pages)