HR 4801 — Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2019

(a) In general (1) Continuation and expansion of program The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, shall under authority of this section continue in effect the Healthy Start Initiative and may carry out such program on a national basis. (2) Definition For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “Healthy Start Initiative” is a reference to the program that, as an initiative to reduce the rate of infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes, makes grants for project areas with high or increasing above the national average annual rates of infant mortality and that, prior to the effective date of this section, was a demonstration program carried out under section 241 of this title. (b) Considerations in making grants (1) Requirements In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall require that applicants (in addition to meeting all eligibility criteria established by the Secretary) establish, for project areas under such subsection, community-based consortia of individuals and organizations (including agencies responsible for administering block grant programs under title V of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.], participants and former participants of project services, public health departments, hospitals, health centers under section 254b of this title, State substance abuse agencies, and other significant sources of health care services) that are appropriate for participation in projects under subsection (a). (2) Other considerations In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration the following: (A) Factors that contribute to infant mortality, including poor birth outcomes (such as low birthweight and preterm birth) and social determinants of health. (B) Communities with— (i) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes; or (ii) high rates of infant mortality or poor perinatal outcomes in specific subpopulations within the community. (C) The extent to which applicants for such grants facilitate— (i) collaboration with the local community in the development of the project; (ii) a community-based approach to the delivery of services; (iii) a comprehensive approach to women’s health care to improve perinatal outcomes; and (iv) the use and collection of data demonstrating the effectiveness of such program in decreasing infant mortality rates and improving perinatal outcomes, as applicable, or the process by which new applicants plan to collect this data. (3) Special projects Nothing in paragraph (2) shall be construed to prevent the Secretary from awarding grants under subsection (a) for special projects that are intended to address significant disparities in perinatal health indicators in communities along the United States-Mexico border or in Alaska or Hawaii. (c) Coordination (1) In general Recipients of grants under subsection (a) shall coordinate their services and activities with the State agency or agencies that administer block grant programs under title V of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.] in order to promote cooperation, integration, and dissemination of information with Statewide systems and with other community services funded under the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. (2) Other programs The Secretary shall ensure coordination of the program carried out pursuant to this section with other programs and activities related to the reduction of the rate of infant mortality and improved perinatal and infant health outcomes supported by the Department. (d) Rule of construction Except to the extent inconsistent with this section, this section may not be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary to make modifications in the program carried out under subsection (a). (e) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $125,500,000 for each of fiscal year...