Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), released the following statement after introducing the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act. The purpose of this bipartisan legislation is to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as their newborns.
The bill encourages easier access to devices and services that allow physicians to monitor their pregnant patients remotely to identify life-threatening complications like blood pressure irregularities. It requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide recommendations and resources to state Medicaid programs on how to cover these devices to make them more accessible in the future.
“The bipartisan Connected MOM Act is common sense legislation that will help improve care for pregnant women covered by Medicaid,” said Rep. Burgess, M.D. “I served women and their newborns in North Texas as an OB/GYN for almost 30 years. I can personally attest to the power of incorporating these cutting-edge technologies and devices to strengthen patient care and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in Texas and across the country.”
“The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in any developed nation in the world, disproportionately impacting communities of color,” said Rep. Frankel. “Virtual medical monitoring can identify pregnancy and postpartum complications, improving maternal health outcomes.”
“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 co-lead 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 we continue to see the U.S. maternal mortality crisis worsen, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) supports the House introduction of the bipartisan Connected MOM Act. This bill will go a long way in helping to improve maternal health outcomes by creating policies and providing state resources that will make it easier for pregnant patients to receive the evidence-based care they need, when and where they need it,” said Iffath A. Hoskins, M.D., FACOG, President of ACOG. “Patient monitoring for blood pressure and glucose levels through remote medical devices have shown clear maternal health benefits. When so many patients live in states with maternity care deserts, these supportive policies would decrease the need for unnecessary office visits while also potentially increasing adherence to evidence-based prenatal care plans. The COVID-19 pandemic was a great case study in the use of telehealth to improve access to care and address socioeconomic and racial health inequities. ACOG applauds the leadership of the sponsors of this bill who are carrying those lessons forward in order to improve the health and lives of pregnant and postpartum people.”
A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D (R-LA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). A full summary of the legislation is available here.
