IMPACT to Save Moms Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a five-year demonstration project (fiscal years 2027-2031) directing CMS to test new ways for Medicaid and CHIP to pay for pregnancy and postpartum care. The goal is to move away from fee-for-service billing and find payment models that actually improve health outcomes for moms and babies.
• The program specifically focuses on reducing health disparities among demographic groups that face the highest rates of maternal death, severe complications, and poor birth outcomes. Data will be broken down by race, ethnicity, language, income, geography, and insurance type.
• The bill encourages diverse maternity care teams that include not just doctors but also midwives, doulas, mental health providers, dietitians, community health workers, and lactation consultants. It also calls for considering social factors like housing and food access that affect health during and after pregnancy.
• After the project ends, the government must report to Congress on whether the new payment models improved outcomes and recommend whether to expand them nationwide. The bill defines the postpartum period as a full year after pregnancy, broader than many current coverage windows.
• The bill authorizes "such sums as are necessary" but does not specify a dollar amount. States would need to apply to participate, and the Secretary would coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders including patient groups, community organizations, hospitals, birth centers, and rural health clinics.