WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Todd Young (R-IN), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving health care for expectant mothers. The Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide coverage recommendations for remote devices such as those that can check for irregularities in blood pressure, blood glucose, and pulse rates which can be indicators of potential pregnancy complications. It also requires CMS to update state resources, such as state Medicaid telehealth toolkits, to correspond with the recommendations provided. The goal is to improve maternal and infant outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women.
“Maternal mortality, especially in underserved communities, is far too frequent in Louisiana today,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Connected MOM Act allows high-risk moms to stay in the comfort of their homes while her physician remotely monitors her and her baby’s health.”
“We must support mothers before, during, and after birth,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will help expectant mothers, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, receive the care that they need for both themselves and their child. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this commonsense bill that could help save lives.”
“Maternal mortality continues to rise across the country, including in the First State. That’s why we need to use the latest innovations to improve health care for expectant mothers,” said Senator Carper. “The Connected MOM Act would help improve maternal and infant outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women in Delaware. I thank Senators Cassidy and Hassan for leading a bipartisan effort on this important issue.”
“Research indicates that roughly 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States can be prevented through patient care, education, and timely interventions. Indiana historically has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country, and I’ve been working to tackle this crisis. Our bipartisan Connected Mom Act would improve remote care for Hoosier mothers and identify potential issues before they become life-threatening,” said Senator Young.
“A lack of access to nearby medical services is a major risk for pregnant mothers who need access to quality prenatal care. Through the use of medical technology – like remote medical devices, we can ensure that any potential health complications are caught early on and treated,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation which will improve health care for expectant mothers and help save lives.”
The bill was inspired by the Connected Maternity Online Monitoring program established by Ochsner Health headquartered in New Orleans. Ochsner provides program participants with equipment for at-home checks to both catch potential issues early and reduce the number of in-person clinic visits.
“We applaud the reintroduction of this bipartisan legislation, led by Senator Cassidy, which will help improve health outcomes for mothers and babies across the nation, particularly among underserved communities. Ochsner has helped lead local and statewide efforts to expand access to obstetric care and we are proud that one of our innovative digital maternal health programs has served as a model for this important bill. The adoption and provision of digital health devices to Medicaid patients to support patient monitoring of blood pressure and other vital signs will advance equity, reduce disparities, and improve the lives of mothers and their children. We thank Senators Cassidy and Hassan for their continued leadership on this critical public health issue,” said Ochsner Health CEO Pete November.
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