A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
The BABIES Act aims to address maternity care shortages and improve outcomes by expanding access to birth centers. It establishes a grant program to help eligible birth centers with startup or expansion costs, such as renovations and equipment. Additionally, the bill creates a Medicaid demonstration program to explore more effective payment models for freestanding birth center services. This program focuses on women with low-risk pregnancies who are eligible for medical assistance. The goal is to improve the quality, scope, and accessibility of these services.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The bill directly aims to improve the quality, scope, and accessibility of maternity services for women.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill provides grants and a Medicaid program specifically to expand access to birth center services in underserved areas.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets Medicaid-eligible individuals to improve their access to maternity care.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes significant new appropriations for grants and Medicaid demonstration programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Birth Centers: The bill provides grants for renovation, expansion, or construction of facilities, as well as purchasing equipment, which can help increase the number of available birth centers (Section 2, subsection (b)).
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Support for Underserved Areas: Grant awards will give special consideration to birth centers located in geographic areas designated as health professional shortage areas for maternity care or areas with low maternity care outcomes (Section 2, subsection (d)).
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Improved Care for Low-Risk Pregnancies: The Medicaid demonstration program is designed to improve access to, and the quality and scope of, services for women with low-risk pregnancies (Section 3, subsection (1)).
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Standardized Care and Safety: The bill requires birth centers in the demonstration program to meet specific care coordination, capability, and quality improvement requirements to maximize patient safety (Section 3, subsection (2)(A)(cc) and (ee)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Eligibility Requirements: To participate in the demonstration program, birth centers must meet rigorous criteria including accreditation, specific licensure, and the ability to provide certain capabilities like emergency procedures and specific staff requirements (Section 3, subsection (2)(A)(i) and (ff)).
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Limited Scope of Care: The demonstration program is specifically targeted toward women with a "low-risk pregnancy," which is defined as an uncomplicated singleton term pregnancy (Section 3, subsection (5)(B)).
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 aims to improve the quality, scope, and accessibility of maternity services for women. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets Medicaid-eligible individuals to improve their access to maternity care. Would children be better off under this? — Improved maternity and newborn care services contribute to better health outcomes for infants. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Expanding access to healthcare services can benefit diverse demographic groups in underserved areas.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides grants and a Medicaid program specifically to expand access to birth center services in underserved areas. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill establishes a new Medicaid demonstration program and provides specific funding for it.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill prioritizes support for birth centers in health professional shortage areas, which often include rural communities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to Congress regarding the outcomes and costs of the demonstration programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increased access to maternity care through Medicaid can help support low-income families.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The expansion of birth center facilities and services may increase demand for maternity healthcare workers. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes significant new appropriations for grants and Medicaid demonstration programs.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/5/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota