Bill · H.R. 5202· House(119-HR-5202)
BABIES Act
- Introduced
- 9/8/2025
- Last activity
- 9/8/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Kelly Morrison
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill aims to address maternity care shortages by expanding access to birth centers and testing new payment models. It creates a grant program to help eligible birth centers with start-up, expansion, equipment, and accreditation costs in underserved areas. The legislation also establishes a Medicaid demonstration program to test prospective payment systems for freestanding birth center services. States can apply for planning grants and participate in four-year demonstration programs to improve care for low-risk pregnancies. Finally, the Secretary is required to submit annual reports and recommendations to Congress regarding the outcomes and costs of these programs.
Yes· 3 of 20
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
By funding start-up costs for birth centers in underserved areas and maternity care deserts, the bill improves access to maternal and newborn care.
Would women be better off under this?+6
The bill directly supports women's health by increasing access to maternal care, birth centers, and improved postpartum support.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
Medicaid beneficiaries and low-income pregnant women gain better access to specialized birth center payment models and care.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Grants for Underserved Areas: Section 2 adds Section 399V-8 to the Public Health Service Act, authorizing grants between $300,000 and $500,000 for up to 15 birth centers per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This helps birth centers renovate, buy equipment, and get licensed, which directly benefits people by increasing the availability of maternity care in areas with doctor shortages or poor health outcomes.
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Improved Medicaid Payment Models: Section 3 amends the Social Security Act to create a Medicaid demonstration program exploring more effective payment models for freestanding birth center care. This is a positive step because it provides clear payment structures for prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and newborn care, making it easier for low-income mothers with low-risk pregnancies to access birth center services.
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Better Care Coordination and Safety Standards: Section 3 requires participating birth centers to meet strict criteria, including care coordination with other health facilities, having at least two qualified staff on-site at every birth, and establishing transfer plans with local hospitals. This benefits patients by ensuring high safety standards and smooth emergency transfers if complications arise.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Funding Limitations and Caps: Section 2 limits grant funding to a total of $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, and caps the awards at up to 15 birth centers per year. This means many birth centers that need financial help will miss out, limiting how much care can actually be expanded for people in need.
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Strict Participation Constraints for States: Section 3 outlines narrow parameters for states to apply for the Medicaid demonstration program, such as requiring a minimum number of birth centers and existing maternity care deserts. This could burden states that do not meet these exact criteria, leaving their residents unable to benefit from the new payment models and planning grants.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+6Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For African Americans+3Good For Children+3Good For Business Owners+2Good For Hispanic Americans+2Good For Middle Class Households+2Good For Native Americans+2Good For Urban Residents+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality+4Improves Racial Equity+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3Increases Job Creation+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3
- 9/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ashley HinsonRepublican · Iowa