S. 2922 – Help for Moms and Babies Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:58 PM UTC

The Help for Moms and Babies Act changes Medicaid rules so that pregnant and postpartum women who are being treated for substance use disorders, including opioid addiction, in mental health facilities can keep their Medicaid coverage. It makes sure that federal Medicaid funds can be used for any related medical services they receive outside the institution. The change applies to women who were already enrolled in Medicaid before entering the facility or who become eligible while they are patients.

Key Provisions

Adds language to the Medicaid State Plan that prevents the usual exclusion from Medicaid coverage for pregnant/postpartum women in mental health institutions receiving substance‑use disorder treatment.
Allows federal Medicaid payments for medical items or services provided to these women outside the institution.
The amendment takes effect on the date the law is enacted, with a grace period for states that need to pass legislation to meet the new requirement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

May 22, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 22, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

May 22, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 22, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2922

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2018

Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Heller, Mr. Brown, Mr. Carper, and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to help improve access to care for pregnant and postpartum women receiving substance use disorder treatment, including for opioid use disorders, in an institution for mental diseases.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Help for Moms and Babies Act.

2.

Medicaid coverage protection for pregnant and postpartum women seeking care for substance use disorder in an institution for mental diseases

(a)

Medicaid State plan

Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: In the case of a woman who is eligible for medical assistance on the basis of being pregnant (including through the end of the month in which the 60-day period beginning on the last day of her pregnancy ends), who is a patient in an institution for mental diseases for purposes of receiving treatment for a substance use disorder, and who was enrolled for medical assistance under the State plan immediately before becoming a patient in an institution for mental diseases or who becomes eligible to enroll for such medical assistance while such a patient, the exclusion from the definition of medical assistance set forth in the subdivision (B) following paragraph (29) of the first sentence of this subsection shall not be construed as prohibiting Federal financial participation for medical assistance for items or services that are provided to the woman outside of the institution..

(b)

Effective date

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

(2)

Rule for changes requiring State legislation

In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendment made by subsection (a), the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.