Salazar, Frankel, Castor, and Letlow Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Maternal Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Julia Letlow (R-LA) reintroduced H.R. 8532, the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The legislation will improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as their newborns.

“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.”

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 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, aiding medical providers and improving health outcomes for expectant mothers and their children.”

“Medicaid is key to keeping moms and infants healthy and well,” said Rep. Castor. “The bipartisan Connected MOM Act will help ensure that families have access to the technology needed for a safe pregnancy. Together, we can reduce maternal mortality and improve outcomes for children too through expanded and modern care delivery.”

“As a mom of two children myself, maternal health has always been an issue near and dear to my heart. However, it is often overlooked and not easily accessible, especially in rural districts like mine,” said Rep. Letlow. “I am proud to co-lead this legislation that will increase the access pregnant women have to high-quality remote care, and makes this flexible care more affordable. The benefits will be felt in the Fifth District of Louisiana and far beyond.”

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