Midwives for MOMS Act Authorizes $35 Million to Boost Midwife Training in Underserved Areas

The Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2025 (Midwives for MOMS Act) aims to tackle the growing crisis in maternity care access, especially in rural and low-income areas, by pumping federal funds into midwife and nurse-midwife education. This bill establishes two separate grant programs, authorizing a total of $35 million from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, specifically targeting the education pipeline to increase the number of providers available to deliver prenatal, labor, and delivery care.

The Care Crisis and the Education Fix

Think of this bill as a targeted effort to staff up birthing centers and clinics where maternity wards are closing down. The legislation creates two grant programs under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): one for accredited midwifery schools and one for accredited nurse-midwifery programs within nursing schools. Both programs share the same core mission: financial support for students, funding for schools to expand or start new programs, and money to secure and train more clinical preceptors (the experienced professionals who supervise students during their clinical rotations).

For example, if you live in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)—a place where healthcare access is already tough—this bill prioritizes funding for schools that commit to sending their graduates there. A key requirement is that institutions must demonstrate a focus on recruiting and retaining students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities, using strategies like enhanced mentorship and academic support. This is a direct attempt to fix the workforce distribution problem, ensuring that the new supply of providers actually ends up where they are needed most.

Where the Money Goes

The funding split is specific, which is important for institutions planning their budgets. For both the general midwifery grant program ($15 million authorized) and the nurse-midwifery grant program ($20 million authorized), 50% of the annual funds must go directly to student support—think scholarships and stipends. The remaining 50% is split evenly between program expansion (25%) and preceptor support (25%). This weighted allocation means students get the most immediate financial help, easing the burden of education costs and hopefully attracting more people to the field.

This direct support is critical for the everyday person pursuing this career. A student who might otherwise be unable to afford the training, or who lives in a rural area far from a training center, now has a better shot at receiving financial aid and mentorship, making it easier to complete their degree and return to their community to practice.

The Fine Print: A Curious Restriction

While the bill is largely focused on expanding access, Section 2 includes a notable restriction for the general midwifery grant program: the Secretary cannot provide funding to a midwifery school or program that is within a school of nursing. This is a distinction that separates independent midwifery programs (often focused on Certified Professional Midwives or Certified Midwives) from the programs that train Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), which are inherently housed within nursing schools.

This specific exclusion means that accredited midwifery programs that have chosen to integrate with nursing schools—perhaps for administrative or resource reasons—are ineligible for the $15 million pot of funding in Section 2, even though they are still training qualified providers. This could complicate the funding landscape for some institutions and potentially limit the overall infrastructure expansion if those integrated programs were relying on this new federal support. It's a provision that clearly favors independent midwifery education structures over those integrated into the traditional nursing school model.