Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative

The Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension Control Initiative is a forthcoming discretionary funding opportunity administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This initiative is part of a broader federal commitment to addressing systemic health challenges facing women, particularly in the context of maternal health outcomes. The Office on Women’s Health (OWH), a division of OASH, is leading this initiative, building on a legacy of prior federal efforts focused on improving hypertension outcomes. These foundational efforts include the HHS Hypertension Innovator Award, the Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package developed by the CDC, and the National Hypertension Control Initiative led by the Office of Minority Health and HRSA. The primary objective of this initiative is to accelerate the nationwide adoption of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) practices for individuals who are pregnant or in the postpartum period. SMBP involves regular patient-led monitoring of blood pressure, typically conducted at home or in other non-clinical settings, with the support of healthcare providers. It is considered a best practice by numerous health authorities and is recommended in both national and international guidelines for adult hypertension control. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) further support SMBP’s utility in managing postpartum hypertensive disorders. This funding opportunity is explicitly designed to expand and implement SMBP in underserved and rural communities, including areas classified as maternity care deserts. The initiative aims to improve detection and management of hypertension, enhance maternal and fetal health outcomes, and reduce morbidity and hospitalizations due to hypertension-related complications. Funding will support projects that can demonstrate the ability to fully implement SMBP programming within six months of award receipt. Additionally, award recipients are expected to continuously evaluate their process and outcome data and share their findings, including best practices and challenges, with HHS and relevant stakeholders. The expected period of performance for funded projects is up to 24 months, divided into two 12-month budget periods. Applicants must submit a non-competing continuation (NCC) application to access second-year funding, which is subject to continued availability of federal funds, project progress, fiscal stewardship, and alignment with government priorities. Funded organizations are also encouraged to consider how their efforts can be sustained beyond the federal support period. While this is a time-limited project, HHS seeks long-term solutions that can be integrated into regular maternal healthcare delivery. A total of up to $10 million is anticipated for this program, with individual awards ranging from $300,000 to $550,000. Approximately 18 awards are expected to be issued. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. Funding is expected to be available under Assistance Listing Number 93.088. Eligible applicants include a wide array of public and private entities, including local governments, tribal organizations (both federally and non-federally recognized), public and private higher education institutions, school districts, housing authorities, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), and special district governments. Faith-based and community-based organizations are also explicitly eligible. The estimated timeline includes a forecasted posting date of April 30, 2025, with applications due by July 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are anticipated to be made by September 15, 2025, with project start dates set for September 30, 2025. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants should monitor Grants.gov and related HHS sites for updates. The primary point of contact for this opportunity is Hodan Eyow, who can be reached at 202-690-7650 or via email at owhgrants@hhs.gov.