NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone; NIH IMPROVE Act
Summary
The NIH IMPROVE Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes by establishing the IMPROVE Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The initiative focuses on reducing preventable causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, addressing health disparities, and improving health for pregnant and postpartum women. It authorizes $73.4 million per year from 2026 through 2031 to fund grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the IMPROVE Initiative will likely lead to increased research and community-based interventions focused on maternal health. This could result in reduced maternal mortality rates and improved healthcare access for pregnant and postpartum women, particularly in underserved communities. The initiative also aims to build a stronger evidence base for effective interventions.
Potential Benefits
- Improved maternal health outcomes, particularly for women in disproportionately affected populations.
- Increased research funding focused on understanding and addressing the causes of maternal mortality and morbidity.
- Development and implementation of community-based interventions to improve maternal health.
- Reduction of health disparities related to maternal health outcomes.
- Enhanced healthcare access for pregnant and postpartum women.
Potential Disadvantages
- The bill's effectiveness depends on the efficient allocation and use of the appropriated funds.
- There may be challenges in implementing community-based interventions and ensuring their effectiveness.
- The focus on specific regions may lead to disparities in access to resources and care across the country.
- The initiative's success relies on the ability to identify and address the underlying biological mechanisms associated with maternal mortality and morbidity.
- The bill does not address potential ethical concerns related to data collection and privacy in maternal health research.
Constitutional Alignment
The NIH IMPROVE Act aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause, as it aims to promote the health and well-being of the population, particularly pregnant and postpartum women. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. The Act falls under this power as it allocates funds for research and programs aimed at improving public health.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).