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Biden Administration Announces New Task Force to Improve Maternal Health Care

Biden Administration Announces New Task Force to Improve Maternal Health Care
Yoss Sabalet via Getty Images

On May 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the release of a national strategy and recommendations from the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, a subcommittee of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Advisory Committee for Women’s Services.  The national strategy seeks to promote “seamless integration of perinatal mental health and substance use care across medical, community, and social systems that increases equity and access, improves federal coordination, and elevates culturally relevant supports and trauma-informed approaches.” Among other things, the strategy calls for increased education, discussion, and screening for maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, “[c]lear pathways” for patients to access maternal mental health and substance use disorder care, and adequate staffing for such care.