The Secretary shall award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to establish collaborative improvement and innovation networks (referred to in this section as “rural obstetric networks”) to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by improving maternity care and access to care in rural areas, frontier areas, maternity care health professional target areas, or jurisdictions of Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
The term “eligible entities” means entities providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care services in rural areas, frontier areas, or medically underserved areas, or to medically underserved populations or Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations.
The term “frontier area” means a frontier county, as defined in section 1395ww(d)(3)(E)(iii)(III) of this title.
The terms “Indian Tribe” and “Tribal organization” have the meanings given the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” in section 5304 of title 25.
The term “maternity care health professional target area” has the meaning described in section 254e(k)(2) of this title.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.