CARE for Moms Act
House Committee Reviews CARE for Moms Act to Extend Medicaid Coverage for New Mothers to 1 Year
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
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.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small businesses that sell tobacco products — convenience stores, gas stations, tobacco shops — would face major disruptions as tobacco excise taxes roughly double. Higher prices would likely reduce sales volume, squeezing profit margins for retailers who depend on tobacco as a key product category. The floor stocks tax provision also means retailers would owe taxes on existing inventory at the higher rate.
Programs
Disabilities
Activities
State Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and 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.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articles
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly introduces "Cares For Moms Act" in bid to reduce maternal mortality rates
Rep. Robin Kelly's bill aims to boost federal funding for doulas, provide grants for mobile clinics in rural "maternity deserts," and extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to a full year. The legislation also seeks to increase government accountability for how maternal health grants are allocated.
Proposed Care for Moms Act Includes Provisions to Increase Tax on Tobacco Products
While focused on maternal health, the CARE for Moms Act includes a significant funding mechanism: doubling the federal excise tax on cigarettes and equalizing taxes on e-cigarettes and other tobacco products. Industry groups expressed concern over the massive tax hikes included in the bill.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CARE for Moms Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(8)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.