A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Maternity Care for Rural Communities Act of 2026. It was introduced in the House of Representatives on October 5, 2026, by Ms. Davids of Kansas. The legislation deals with the Medicaid program and certain limits on State-directed payments. Specifically, it states that certain payment limits will not apply to specific maternity, labor, and delivery services. These exemptions apply to services furnished during a rating period beginning on or after July 4, 2025. The bill also provides definitions for qualifying births and specified entities to determine which hospitals and services are covered.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Would women be better off under this?
The bill directly safeguards and supports maternity, labor, and delivery care for women, particularly in rural areas.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The Maternity Care for Rural Communities Act specifically targets rural hospitals to ensure continued delivery of maternity services.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
By lifting payment limits for rural and qualifying hospitals providing maternity care, the bill supports maternal healthcare access.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Exemption from payment limits for maternity, labor, and delivery services: Under Section 2, the bill amends previous law so that no limit shall apply to certain payments made for maternity, labor, or delivery services furnished by a specified entity during a rating period beginning on or after July 4, 2025. This could benefit people by ensuring that certain facilities can receive these specific payments without restrictions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No explicitly stated negative impacts: Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill directly safeguards and supports maternity, labor, and delivery care for women, particularly in rural areas. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The Maternity Care for Rural Communities Act specifically targets rural hospitals to ensure continued delivery of maternity services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects and supports Medicaid-funded maternity and delivery services utilized by low-income households. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation explicitly includes hospitals operated by the Indian Health Service and Indian Tribes in its payment exemptions. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults of childbearing age benefit directly from enhanced and unrestricted maternity payment provisions at rural hospitals. Would children be better off under this? — Improving funding and support for maternity and delivery services benefits newborns and children.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By lifting payment limits for rural and qualifying hospitals providing maternity care, the bill supports maternal healthcare access. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill exempts certain maternity, labor, and delivery services from State-directed payment limits under the Medicaid program.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The legislation specifically targets rural hospitals and health entities to ensure the continuation of maternity and delivery services.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill relaxes federal State-directed payment limits on Medicaid programs regarding maternity services.
- 10/5/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House