For the provision of statewide support services for maternal, child and family health activities for pregnant people, parents, caregivers, infants, children and youth, including those with special health needs to maintain the public health infrastructure necessary to promote racially equitable, evidence--based, data--informed and family--engaged services and programs; provided, 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 $10,840,965 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 $75,000 shall be expended to Seven Sisters Midwifery LLC; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Worcester Community Midwifery to provide midwifery care and birth center services to families across the state; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to the development and implementation of a pilot program for MassHealth to partner with a mobile pregnancy application to promote awareness of the commonwealth's maternal and infant health programs to prenatal, pregnant and postpartum individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid or are eligible for Medicaid; provided further, that such application shall have the capability to deliver education, resources and support to prenatal, pregnant and postpartum individuals and their families, including, but not limited to, information specific to the commonwealth, links to programs administered by the department and other state agencies and culturally and linguistically appropriate content; provided further, that not later than January 30, 2028, the department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and report on utilization, outcomes and recommendations for expansion; provided further, that not less than $386,000 shall be expended for universal newborn hearing screening; provided further, that funds shall be expended for universal newborn hearing screening and perinatal--neonatal quality improvement; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for a doula certification program; 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 2, 2027, the committee shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations 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; 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 providing full prenatal care and extensive postpartum care; provided further, that funds shall be issued through a competitive grant process; provided further, that freestanding birth centers and maternal health--centered community--based nonprofit organizations shall be eligible to apply for the funds, 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 inequities in maternal health including, but not limited to, high rates of maternal and infant mortality; provided further, that not less than $220,000 shall be expended for grants to community--based organizations to address mental health conditions and substance use disorders for perinatal individuals consistent with
section 16GG of chapter 6A of the General Laws; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Hilltown Village, Inc. doing business as It Takes A Village in the town of Huntington for postpartum and early parenting support for families in the western region of the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Neighborhood Birth Center in the city of Boston to provide perinatal health care and prenatal and postpartum support; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Pernet Family Health Service of Worcester, Inc. in the city of Worcester for its fourth trimester screening program
