Maternal and child health programs could be in peril as Congress reviews its budgetary priorities. Federal government efforts designed to protect mothers and babies could shrink or disappear without adequate public support. Both House and Senate proposals currently support key initiatives, but differences in how to handle state grants could impact maternal and infant health efforts for years to come.
Pregnancy-related deaths in the US exceed those of comparable countries, and those deaths are concentrated in Black and Indigenous communities. Clinicians estimate four in five of those deaths are preventable, with most fatalities stemming from lack of prenatal care or maternal follow-up. Mental health challenges and intimate partner violence are additional risks that funding could help address.
House and Senate Advance Split Priorities
The House and the Senate Appropriations Committees have advanced separate plans to increase funding for:
- Maternal mortality monitoring review committee
The House’s proposal would eliminate the Healthy Start program, with its decades-long mandate to reduce infant mortality in high-risk communities. Cuts are also proposed to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, which provides flexible funding for states to use for local and culturally informed health initiatives.
The Senate proposal, by contrast, maintains much needed support for Healthy Start, and while it includes reduced funding to the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant offered to states, the cuts are more modest than in the House version. The Senate bill, according to experts and patient advocates, reflects broader support for maternal health initiatives and their life-saving potential.
Health Programs Await Final Vote
Maternal and child health programs continue to face uncertainty until appropriations are finalized. Proposals by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will need to be reconciled, including their conflicting priorities for maternal and infant health. The outcome will determine when and how families can access critical resources.
