The U.S.Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced an investment of over $558 million aimed at bolstering maternal health initiatives. This funding supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to lowering the national maternal mortality rate through the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of HHS, will allocate more than $440 million to broaden voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for mothers, infants, and young children across the nation. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will invest $118.5 million over five years in 46 states, six territories, and freely associated states to strengthen public health infrastructure for identifying and preventing pregnancy-related deaths.

President Biden previously signed bipartisan legislation doubling funding for the Maternal,Infant,and Early Childhood Home Visiting programme over five years. This program enables local organizations to offer home visits from healthcare professionals who assist families with prenatal care, postpartum support, breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, early language development, developmental screening, school readiness, and connections to community resources.

Vice President Harris stated, “As someone who has spent my entire career fighting for the health and wellbeing of women and children, I am committed to addressing a maternal health crisis in which women across America are dying before, during, and after childbirth at higher rates than in any other developed nation… Today, we are building on this lifesaving work by awarding more than $558 million to improve maternal health across America. This includes a critical $440 million to support pregnant women, new mothers, and their children through home visiting programs that will improve health outcomes, child development, and access to resources for years to come.”

HHS secretary Xavier Becerra noted the challenges faced by new parents,such as housing or income insecurity,and emphasized the effectiveness of home visits in improving school readiness and health for women. “President Biden and Vice President Harris know how crucial it is indeed to support children in their most crucial years of development so they can grow up to be healthy, happy adults. We will continue to make resources and support available,and elevate maternal health issues so that more women and families know that help is available,” said Becerra.

HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson highlighted the agency’s commitment to removing barriers to care for expectant and new mothers and babies. “That’s why – thanks to the leadership of the President and Vice President – we were able to work closely with bipartisan leaders in Congress to grow the home visiting program to give more moms and babies a trusted home visiting partner to help their families in ways large and small to be healthy,feel supported,access health care services,nurture their child’s development,and give families every prospect to thrive,” Johnson stated.

The home visiting program funds states, jurisdictions, and tribal entities to develop and implement evidence-based, voluntary programs that best meet the needs of their communities. Families choose to participate in home visiting programs from pregnancy up to kindergarten and partner with health, social services, and child development professionals who provide resources, support, and skills to help families and children be physically, socially, and emotionally healthy. The program has demonstrated meaningful benefits, including improved school readiness and achievement of children, improved health for women, increased health insurance coverage, and prevented child injuries, abuse, and neglect.

The CDC’s $118.5 million investment will expand support to Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) from 46 to 52 states and U.S. territories and freely associated states. These committees review deaths occurring within one year of pregnancy’s end, determine preventability, and recommend preventative measures. This investment in the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program also advances progress on implementing the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. CDC initiated the ERASE MM program in 2019 to invest in MMRCs and standardize their death review efforts.

Wanda Barfield, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, stated, “Every pregnancy-related death is a tragedy for the family and the community… Thanks to MMRCs, we know more about the causes and circumstances around pregnancy-related deaths, and we have actionable recommendations to prevent future deaths. This investment will support more jurisdictions in their critical work to save mothers’ lives.”

These initiatives build upon HHS’ and the Administration’s efforts to implement the White House Blueprint to Address the Maternal Health Crisis, detailed in this Fact Sheet.