For the provision of statewide support services for maternal, child and family health activities to pregnant people, parents, caregivers, infants, children and youth, including those with special health needs to maintain the public health infrastructure necessary for promoting racially equitable, evidence-based, data-informed and family-engaged services and programs; provided, that not less than $296,297 shall be expended for the universal newborn hearing screening program; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for the non-state, government public hospital system established pursuant to chapter 147 of the acts of 1996 for a grant toward facilities and start-up expenditures for birth center and midwifery care; provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for the notification of and follow through with affected families, primary care providers and early intervention programs upon the department of public health's receipt of data indicative of potential hearing disorders in newborns; provided further, that not less than $9,940,965 shall be expended for the pediatric palliative care program established in
section 24K of chapter 111 of the General Laws; provided further, that notwithstanding said
section 24K of said chapter 111, children less than 22 years of age shall be eligible for this program; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Propa City Community Outreach Inc. to provide education, advocacy, public awareness and support services to families experiencing all types of loss; provided further, that funds may be expended to Manet Community Health Center, Incorporated to coordinate a health needs assessment to identify barriers to maternal and child healthcare and develop inclusive programs to improve local maternal and child healthcare access in the Greater Taunton and Attleboro area; provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be expended for the operations of and hiring additional personnel for the Massachusetts maternal mortality and morbidity review committee to enhance the committee's ability to comprehensively review deaths and complications that occur during or within 1 year of pregnancy and make related remedial policy and practice recommendations; provided further, that the committee shall convene regularly to encourage consistent case review and reporting of findings and recommendations; provided further, that the department of public health shall submit to the committee, in a timely manner, aggregated and patient-level maternal morbidity and mortality data for review and utilization in developing recommendations to improve perinatal and maternal health outcomes; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2024, the committee shall submit a report to the joint committee on public health, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the pregnancy and birth equity task force of the Massachusetts caucus of women legislators and the commission on the status of women on its findings and recommendations; provided further, that the department shall publish the committee's report on its website; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended to support the development and operation of freestanding birth centers to cover costs including, but not limited to, facility costs, start-up expenditures and the cost of the provision of full prenatal care and extensive postpartum care; provided further, that funds shall be issued through a competitive grant process; provided further, that nonprofit birth centers and maternal health-centered community-based nonprofit organizations shall be eligible to apply for the funds; provided further, that the department of public health shall promulgate regulations establishing application criteria, which shall include a requirement that a birth center be licensed or be in active pursuit of licensure; provided further, that priority for funding shall be given to birth centers that serve communities historically impacted most by racial inequities in maternal health including, but not limited to, high rates of maternal and infant mortality; and provided further, that not less $150,000 shall be expended to Seven Sisters Midwifery LLC for its doula workforce pilot program
