[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-320
115th Congress

An Act


 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to distribute maternity care
health professionals to health professional shortage areas identified as
in need of maternity care health services. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Access to Maternity Care
Act''.
SEC. 2. MATERNITY CARE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TARGET AREAS.

Section 332 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(k)(1) The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the
Health Resources and Services Administration, shall identify, based on
the data collected under paragraph (3), maternity care health
professional target areas that satisfy the criteria described in
paragraph (2) for purposes of, in connection with receipt of assistance
under this title, assigning to such identified areas maternity care
health professionals who, without application of this subsection, would
otherwise be eligible for such assistance. The Secretary shall
distribute maternity care health professionals within health
professional shortage areas using the maternity care health professional
target areas so identified.
``(2) <> For purposes of paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall establish criteria for maternity care health
professional target areas that identify geographic areas within health
professional shortage areas that have a shortage of maternity care
health professionals.

``(3) <> For purposes of this
subsection, the Secretary shall collect and publish in the Federal
Register data comparing the availability and need of maternity care
health services in health professional shortage areas and in areas
within such health professional shortage areas.

``(4) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek input
from relevant provider organizations, including medical societies,
organizations representing medical facilities, and other organizations
with expertise in maternity care.
``(5) <> For purposes of this subsection, the
term `full scope maternity care health services' includes during labor
care, birthing, prenatal care, and postpartum care.

``(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as--
``(A) requiring the identification of a maternity care
health professional target area in an area not otherwise already
designated as a health professional shortage area; or

[[Page 4438]]

``(B) affecting the types of health professionals, without
application of this subsection, otherwise eligible for
assistance, including a loan repayment or scholarship, pursuant
to the application of this section.''.

Approved December 17, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 315:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 163 (2017):
Jan. 9, considered and passed House.
Vol. 164 (2018):
Dec. 6, considered and passed
Senate.