Perinatal Workforce Act

Bill Number: H.R. 8089
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-04-14T13:24:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Perinatal Workforce Act (H.R. 8089) aims to expand and diversify the workforce providing maternal and perinatal health care (care during pregnancy, birth, and the first year postpartum). It focuses on improving access to respectful, culturally appropriate care, reducing racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, and addressing shortages in health professional shortage areas.

Key Provisions

HHS Guidance and Study (Sec. 2):
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance within 2 years to states, educating providers and insurers on delivering respectful maternal care through diverse teams (e.g., midwives, perinatal health workers, physician assistants, nurses, lactation consultants).
Mandates a NIH-led study on best practices for respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent care (care matching the patient's cultural values, beliefs, language, and practices), with a public report to Congress including examples of successful programs and recommendations.
Perinatal Workforce Grants (Sec. 3): Adds new section 758 to Title VII of the Public Health Service Act.
Grants to establish/expand accredited training programs for physician assistants, perinatal health workers (nonclinical roles like doulas, community health workers), and midwives meeting international standards.
Prioritizes programs recruiting diverse students/faculty, targeting shortage areas and high-disparity regions, with mandatory bias/racism training.
Requires annual reporting; grants up to 5 years; HHS provides technical assistance; report to Congress after 4 years.
Authorizes $15 million annually (FY 2027–2031).
Perinatal Nursing Workforce Grants (Sec. 4): Adds new section 812 to Title VIII.
Grants to nursing schools for scholarships to train nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists focused on maternal/perinatal health.
Similar prioritization, reporting, and oversight as Sec. 3 grants.
Authorizes $15 million annually (FY 2027–2031).
GAO Report (Sec. 5): Requires Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports every 5 years (starting in 2 years) on barriers to maternal health education/training (e.g., for midwives, nurses) and access to care, stratified by race/ethnicity, with equity recommendations.
Definitions (Sec. 6): Clarifies terms like maternity care provider (e.g., physicians, midwives, doulas), perinatal health worker, and culturally and linguistically congruent care.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Inserts two new grant programs into the Public Health Service Act (Titles VII and VIII), creating dedicated funding for perinatal workforce development.
Introduces federal incentives for diversity, bias training, and multidisciplinary teams, including international midwifery standards.
No direct amendments to prior sections; focuses on additions to support workforce growth.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: HHS gains responsibilities for guidance, grants, studies, and reports; increased administrative workload but with authorized funding.
Citizens: Improved access to diverse, culturally sensitive maternal care, potentially reducing maternal mortality/morbidity disparities (especially for racial/ethnic minorities, low-income, and rural groups).
Healthcare Providers/Insurers: Encourages recruitment/retention of diverse professionals and team-based models; states/hospitals may adopt new practices via guidance.
No direct international relations impact, though aligns with global midwifery standards.

Main Stakeholders

Federal/State Agencies: HHS, NIH, GAO, state health departments.
Educational Institutions: Accredited schools/programs for midwives, nurses, physician assistants.
Healthcare Providers/Entities: Hospitals, birth centers, managed care organizations, insurers, midwives, nurses, perinatal health workers.
Communities/Patients: Pregnant/postpartum individuals, especially from racial/ethnic minorities, underserved/rural areas, and health professional shortage areas.
Students/Faculty: Diverse trainees receiving scholarships/training.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Relies on existing grant authorities in the Public Health Service Act; promotes evidence-based practices without mandating state changes (guidance is advisory). Authorizes appropriations but does not guarantee funding.
Constitutional: No apparent issues; uses spending power for health workforce development, consistent with federal health policy precedents.
Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (119th Congress); emphasizes health equity and bias training, which may spark debate on diversity mandates but remains voluntary for recipients. Focuses on measurable outcomes like workforce placement in shortage areas.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

Cosponsors (42)

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]