AHA, other national organizations urge passage of maternal health quality improvement legislation

The AHA and 114 other national organizations yesterday urged leaders from the House and Senate to swiftly pass the bipartisan Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (H.R. 4995) and the bipartisan Helping MOMS Act of 2020 (H.R. 4996). Passage of the combined proposals would serve as a critical and foundational next step in Congress’ work to address maternal mortality and improve maternal health. “This legislation would increase access to maternity care in rural and underserved areas, help maternity care providers and hospitals implement clinically proven best practices, support state efforts to extend Medicaid coverage for women to one year postpartum, and make progress in the work needed to eliminate racial and ethnic inequities in maternal health outcomes,” the groups wrote. Both bills passed the House in September but have not yet been taken up by the Senate.