NIH IMPROVE Act Authorizes $73.4M Annually for Maternal Health Research Focused on Reducing Disparities

This bill, officially titled the “NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone” or the “NIH IMPROVE Act,” is straightforward: it formally establishes a new, dedicated research initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focused entirely on improving maternal health outcomes. The program, called the IMPROVE Initiative, is designed to tackle the high rates of preventable maternal deaths and severe complications in the U.S., particularly focusing on communities where these issues hit hardest. To do this, Congress authorizes $73.4 million for the program for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031, providing sustained funding for this critical area.

The Research Focus: Closing the Gaps

The core mission of the IMPROVE Initiative is to fund research that specifically addresses the biological, behavioral, and other factors affecting maternal health. The bill lays out three main objectives. First, the research must aim to reduce preventable maternal deaths and severe health complications while improving health for pregnant and postpartum women. Second, it requires an integrated approach to build an evidence base for better outcomes in specific U.S. regions, recognizing that what works in one state might not work in another. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Initiative is explicitly tasked with targeting health disparities by implementing and evaluating community-based interventions for women who are disproportionately affected by poor maternal health outcomes.

What This Means for Everyday Life

If you’re a pregnant person or someone planning a family, this bill is about funding the solutions needed to make childbirth safer, particularly if you are part of a demographic currently facing worse health outcomes. Think of the research grants the NIH will award under this initiative: they won't just study general health; they will fund projects looking into why certain communities—often rural or underserved minority groups—have significantly higher rates of complications or death. For example, a grant might fund a study evaluating whether a community-based program providing integrated mental health and prenatal care in a low-income urban area successfully reduces preeclampsia rates, providing evidence that could then be scaled up nationally.

The Long-Term Investment

The most significant element here is the money and the commitment. Authorizing $73.4 million annually for six years (2026–2031) provides stability for researchers. This isn't a one-off grant; it's a sustained federal investment that allows scientists to launch long-term studies that can track pregnant people and their babies over time, which is essential for understanding complex health issues. Since the bill allows the NIH to award grants, enter into contracts, or use cooperative agreements, it opens the door for hospitals, universities, and community health centers to receive funding to conduct this vital research. While the benefits won't be immediate—science takes time—this bill sets the stage for evidence-based improvements in maternal care that could start rolling out in the late 2020s and beyond, making a real difference in the experience of becoming a parent in America.