By APA’s Division of Advocacy, Policy, and Practice Advancement

Promoting federal legislation that improves health and mental health outcomes for underserved populations is an important component to APA’s advocacy mission. One area in which APA has taken a strong and proactive approach is maternal mental health policy, as underlying mental health conditions and substance use disorders are now the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States.

At the close of 2024, one of APA’s key legislative priorities was for the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act to be reauthorized with double its original funding. President Donald Trump originally signed the act into law during his first administration in 2018. The program funds state maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) critical to understanding the scope of pregnancy-related deaths and promotes disseminating best practices to providers. Unfortunately, this bipartisan effort was part of the end-of-year health care package that collapsed before the eventual passage of a streamlined continuing resolution (CR) funding the federal government through March 14.

Despite this outcome, APA was encouraged to see strong support for maternal mental health programs in Congress on both sides of the aisle. The ensuing CR did extend federal funding at fiscal year 2024 levels through March that cover a multitude of vital maternal mental health programs supported by APA and instrumental in improving health disparities and outcomes. These include the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline and the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) initiative.

Of equal importance, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed in December included a new initiative to address the perinatal mental health of active-duty service members and spouses. The NDAA legislative language was based on the bipartisan Maintaining our Obligation to Moms who Serve Act introduced by Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) in the House and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) in the Senate. APA was active in the congressional- and stakeholder-support building for this bill.

The legislation establishes a standing program in the military health care system that will provide both clinical and non-medical resources to prevent and treat maternal mental health conditions and raise awareness among service members and their families. Approximately 100,000 military mothers (both active duty and spouses) give birth each year, and one in three are impacted by maternal mental health conditions — twice the rate seen in the civilian population. Nationwide, one in five women will suffer from mental health conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period, but only 25 percent of them will receive treatment.

As the 119th Congress gets underway, bipartisan support continues for legislation to address the maternal care crisis. APA will continue to work with allies — including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March of Dimes, the Mind the Gap Coalition, and others — as well as congressional champions to support the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act upon upcoming reintroduction this session. APA will also advocate to protect critical funding in the FY 2026 appropriations process in support of initiatives combatting maternal mortality and addressing maternal mental health and substance use disorders. We are committed to advancing important policies to tackle maternal mortality and perinatal mental health care access.