Kira Johnson Act

Kira Johnson Act

This bill establishes various grants for establishing or expanding programs to advance maternal health equity.

Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants for

• community-based programs to improve maternal health outcomes for demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, maternal health disparities, and other adverse outcomes;
• training for health care providers and others who work in maternity care settings on reducing and preventing racism, bias, and discrimination; and
• programs in hospitals, health systems, and other maternity care settings to establish processes to identify and address instances of racism or evidence of bias in maternity care (i.e., respectful maternity care compliance programs).

HHS must contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to study issues related to the training programs, and the Government Accountability Office must study issues related to the respectful maternity care compliance programs.

The Kira Johnson Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 3310, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of improving maternal health outcomes for women, particularly women of color. The bill is named after Kira Johnson, a woman who tragically died due to complications during childbirth.

The main provisions of the Kira Johnson Act include increasing funding for maternal health research and data collection, improving access to quality prenatal and postpartum care, and addressing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. The bill also aims to enhance training for healthcare providers on recognizing and addressing complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, the Kira Johnson Act seeks to establish a national maternal mortality review committee to investigate and report on maternal deaths, with a focus on identifying systemic issues and recommending solutions to prevent future tragedies. Overall, the Kira Johnson Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to address the root causes of maternal mortality and improve outcomes for women during pregnancy and childbirth. It highlights the importance of prioritizing maternal health and ensuring that all women have access to the care and support they need to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.