# CARE for Moms Act Summary
This bill addresses the rising maternal mortality crisis in the United States by establishing several federal programs and expanding healthcare coverage for pregnant and postpartum women.
**Key Actions:**
The bill creates a $35 million annual grant program (2024-2028) to help every state develop perinatal quality collaboratives—networks that improve maternal and infant health using evidence-based practices. It requires Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to cover dental services for pregnant and postpartum women and guarantees 12 months of continuous healthcare coverage for pregnant women (extending current 60-day postpartum limits). The federal government will fund 100% of costs for extended postpartum coverage the first five years, then 90% afterward. The bill also increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for obstetric and gynecological services in rural hospitals.
**Who It Affects:**
Pregnant women, postpartum women up to one year after delivery, rural hospitals, underserved communities, and healthcare providers including obstetricians, midwives, and doulas.
**Additional Provisions:**
The bill funds programs to train and expand the doula workforce ($50 million for 2024), establishes regional centers teaching healthcare providers about implicit bias and cultural competency, creates pilot programs for mobile health units serving rural areas, requires hospitals to notify the government 90 days before closing obstetric units, and significantly increases excise taxes on cigarettes and all tobacco products to fund these maternal health initiatives.
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