The Kira Johnson Act is a federal initiative designed to reduce maternal mortality and address health disparities in pregnancy and childbirth care. The bill establishes three main programs running from 2027 through 2031: community-based grants ($100 million annually) to organizations serving high-risk populations, which must provide maternal mental health services, prenatal care, and midwifery support; bias training grants ($5 million annually) for maternity care workers at all levels to address racism and improve cultural competency; and compliance programs that require hospitals to create systems for patients and staff to report discrimination, with annual reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services. The legislation also directs the National Academies to study what bias-reduction strategies work best and requires the Government Accountability Office to track program outcomes, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities. Overall, the bill targets systemic racism and discrimination in maternal healthcare as a key factor in preventing maternal deaths and improving care quality.
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