CARE for Moms Act

Key Points

• This bill requires Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover new mothers for a full year after they give birth. Right now, many women lose this health insurance just 60 days after having a baby. The plan also adds dental care to these programs to help prevent infections during and after pregnancy.
• It creates a $50 million program to train and hire more doulas, especially in communities that need them most. Doulas are professionals who provide physical and emotional support to mothers during and after birth. Research shows that having a doula can lead to fewer complications and healthier babies.
• To help mothers living in rural areas, the bill provides $10 million a year for "clinics on wheels." These mobile health units would travel to small towns to provide checkups and emergency care. This is meant to help women who live far away from the nearest hospital or doctor.
• The plan would be paid for by doubling the federal tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. For example, the tax on a pack of small cigarettes would increase from about $1.00 to $2.00. This is intended to raise money for health programs while also encouraging people to quit smoking.
• Hospitals would be required to give at least 90 days' notice before closing a maternity or childbirth unit. They would also have to write a report explaining how the closure will affect local families and where those mothers are supposed to go for care instead.