HHS Announces $103 Million in Funding, New Initiatives for Maternal Health
- September 29, 2023
The Department of Health and Human Services is awarding more than $103 million in funding and launching new initiatives aimed at addressing the nation’s maternal health crisis.
The funding will be devoted to programs aimed at expanding access to maternal health care, including growing and supporting the maternal health workforce and improving screening and treatment for maternal depression and other mental health and substance use disorders.
Following a September 27 roundtable discussion in Baltimore, MD with public and private stakeholders, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced a new task force to address maternal mental health conditions and co-occurring substance use disorders. The task force, which will be co-chaired by HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D. and Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., will focus on ensuring mental health equity and promoting trauma-informed practices, the agency said.
The Office of Women’s Health also is launching a national public campaign to educate women about postpartum depression and encourage them to seek help. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 13.4% of U.S. women report postpartum depression symptoms in the 12 months after childbirth.
The funding and new initiatives are part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to address the nation’s maternal mortality crisis and reduce disparities for patients at highest risk of poor outcomes.