Congresswoman Maria Salazar (FL-27) and Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) have reintroduced the bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act in Congress. The legislation aims to improve care for expectant and new mothers by providing preventive resources to help avoid complications during and after pregnancy.
“Ensuring that expectant mothers have access to every tool necessary is vital to supporting maternal health and to our nation’s future,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud to reintroduce legislation that would give new and expecting mothers and their children the head-start they deserve with the best technology our country has to offer.”
“As a mom and now a grandmother, I know how important it is for expectant mothers to feel safe and supported every step of the way,” said Rep. Frankel. “Too many women in our country face preventable complications during pregnancy and after childbirth, especially women of color. By giving doctors the tools to monitor moms virtually, we can catch problems early, save lives, and give families the healthy start they deserve.”
The bill would make it easier for healthcare professionals to use modern technology, such as remote monitoring devices for conditions like high blood pressure, in order to check for life-threatening complications both during pregnancy and after childbirth. It also directs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to issue guidance and provide resources so state Medicaid programs can cover these devices, with the goal of expanding access across the country.
Supporters of the bill include several health advocacy organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), March of Dimes, and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).
“There are several states where pregnant patients have to drive nearly an hour or more to a hospital with a labor and delivery unit, and we will likely see an increasing number of patients experience challenges in accessing prenatal care in their communities in the years ahead,” said Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, President of ACOG. “The timely reintroduction of the bipartisan Connected MOM Act would provide states with resources to help make it easier for pregnant patients to access care by allowing them to monitor their blood pressure and glucose levels through remote medical devices. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists fully supports this legislation as it would decrease the need for unnecessary office visits while also potentially increasing adherence to evidence-based prenatal care plans. Things like remote monitoring and telehealth have also shown clear maternal health benefits by not only improving access to care but also addressing socioeconomic and racial health inequities. ACOG applauds the leadership of Representatives Frankel, Salazar, Castor, and Letlow for remaining steadfast in their efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.”
“The American Medical Association commends Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Julia Letlow (R-LA) for introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that will make a meaningful difference in the fight to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity,” said Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., President of AMA. “Patients and physicians recognize that telehealth and remote patient monitoring services offer effective and convenient health care. The AMA believes this legislation would significantly improve maternal and infant health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women across the U.S., especially for those who are high-risk, lower income, and live in rural areas.”
“The American College of Cardiology believes the Connected MOM Act is a vital step to ensuring every pregnant patient, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers, has access to life-saving remote monitoring tools,” said Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC, President of ACC. “This legislation represents a commonsense, bipartisan effort to modernize maternal care and improve outcomes for high-risk patients. By expanding access to remote monitoring, we enable earlier detection of complications such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes and can ensure a timely intervention. The ACC strongly supports this effort to align policy with clinical innovation to make pregnancy safer and more equitable for all.”
March of Dimes research indicates that over 2 million women of childbearing age—and more than 150 thousand babies—live in counties without adequate maternity care services; these areas are known as maternity care deserts.
“March of Dimes research shows that more than 2.3 million women of childbearing age and over 150,000 babies live in counties called maternity care deserts—places with no or limited access to maternity care services—forcing families to find new ways to get the care they need. To help ensure every mom has the healthiest pregnancy and birth, we must advance policies that expand telehealth and access to remote monitoring devices,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes Sr. Vice President Public Policy & Government Affairs.“The bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act sponsored by Reps.Frankel Salazar Castor,and Letlow,and Sens.Cassidyand Hassan,takes important steps torequirthe Centersfor Medicareand Medicaid Services(CMS)tostrengthen state resources–like Medicaid telehealth toolkits–and issue coverage recommendationsfor devicesthat track blood pressure,blood glucose,and pulse rates whichcan be early indicatorsof pregnancy complications.This legislationcan help providersact sooner ,improve outcomes,and save lives .”
“There is an unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality in the U.S., particularly in underserved communities,” said Kyle Zebley ATA Executive Director Senior Vice President ATA.”Telehealth can providea valuable solutionto helppreventmaternal deathsand adversehealth outcomes,andwe fullysupportthebipartisanConnectedMaternalOnlineMonitoring(MOM)Acttohelpsolve gapsincareforhigh-riskexpectantmothersenrolledinMedicaid.OurthanksgotoCongresswomanLoisFrankelandherco-authorsintheHouseRepresentativesMariaElviraSalazar,KathyCastor,andJuliaLetlow,andtheirCongressionalcounterpartsSenatorsBillCassidyandMaggieHassanforreintroducingthisessentiallegislation.Byreducingbarrierstoregularprenatalandpostpartumcareusingremotemonitoringtools,wecaneffectivelyimprovematernalandchildhealthoutcomes.”
For more information about maternity deserts: https://www.marchofdimes.org/perinatal-data/maternity-care-deserts-interactive-map
