42 U.S.C. § 280g–18 — Maternal mental health hotline

(a) In general: By grant or contract, the Secretary must maintain a national maternal mental health hotline giving emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental health and substance use disorder resources to pregnant and postpartum women at risk of or affected by maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and to their families or household members. (b) Requirements for hotline: The hotline must (1) run 24/7 in real time; (2) offer both voice and text support; (3) be staffed by certified peer specialists, or licensed health care or mental health professionals, trained on (A) preventing, identifying, and intervening in maternal mental health and substance use disorders, and (B) giving culturally and linguistically appropriate support; and (4) give maternal mental health and substance use disorder help and referrals that meet the needs of underserved populations, people with disabilities, and family or household members of at-risk women. (c) Additional requirements: In running the hotline, the Secretary must (1) consult the Domestic Violence Hotline, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and Veterans Crisis Line, so pregnant and postpartum women get connected in real time to the right specialized hotline when applicable; (2) run a public awareness campaign for the hotline; (3) consult federal agencies, including SAMHSA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to raise awareness of the hotline; and (4) consult State, local, and Tribal public health officials, including those who run programs serving low-income pregnant and postpartum people. (d) Annual report: The Secretary must submit an annual report to Congress on the hotline and this section's implementation, including (1) an evaluation of how effective the funded activities have been; (2) a directory of entities or organizations hotline staff may refer callers to; and (3) any other information the Secretary decides is appropriate. (e) Authorization of appropriations: Congress may spend $10,000,000 each year from 2023 through 2027.