The Community Access, Resources, and Empowerment for Moms Act, or the CARE for Moms Act, addresses the alarmingly high and rising maternal mortality rate in the United States, which significantly surpasses that of other high-income countries and disproportionately affects women of color. Recognizing that over 80 percent of maternal deaths are preventable, this legislation aims to improve maternal health outcomes by enhancing access to care, improving healthcare quality, and confronting systemic inequities.

The bill establishes a grant program for State-Based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives to improve measurable maternal and infant health outcomes through evidence-informed clinical practices and quality improvement principles. These multidisciplinary collaboratives will work with clinical teams to disseminate best practices. Additionally, the Act creates a program to expand and diversify the full spectrum doula workforce, offering grants for education, training, and scholarships, particularly for individuals from underserved communities that experience high rates of maternal mortality.

A key provision mandates 12-month continuous Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals, extending benefits beyond the current 60-day period. It also requires Medicaid and CHIP to cover essential oral health services for pregnant and postpartum women for one year after pregnancy, acknowledging its critical role in perinatal health. To incentivize states, the bill provides increased federal matching funds (FMAP) for these extended coverage periods, starting at 100 percent for the first five years.

To address disparities and improve access in underserved areas, the Act establishes Regional Centers of Excellence focused on educating healthcare professionals about implicit bias, cultural competency, and respectful care practices. It also creates a pilot grant program for Rural Obstetric Mobile Health Units to deliver comprehensive pre-conception, pregnancy, postpartum, and emergency obstetric services in rural and underserved communities. This includes funding for provider training and support for social determinants of health, alongside an enhanced FMAP for rural obstetric and gynecological services provided at rural hospitals.

Further, the legislation requires hospitals to provide 90-day notification of impending obstetric unit closures to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, including an impact analysis on the community. It also mandates a comprehensive report on maternal health needs and federal expenditures to Congress, with disaggregated data to highlight disparities. The initiatives outlined in the bill are primarily funded by increasing federal excise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, aiming to establish tax equity across various tobacco categories.