The proposed legislation has the potential to reform how maternal health is approached during emergencies by concentrating efforts on data collection and analysis. It encourages partnerships between federal and local health bodies while enhancing the capacity for identifying and addressing maternal health disparities. This could lead to improved public health responses, ensuring better support systems for pregnant individuals during emergencies, which is crucial given the disparities often seen in maternal health outcomes, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities.
Summary
House Bill 3304, titled the 'Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act', aims to authorize significant appropriations for data collection, surveillance, and research focused on maternal health outcomes during public health emergencies. The bill proposes a budget allocation of $100 million for the CDC's Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program, as well as funds for enhancing maternal mortality review programs and pregnancy risk assessment monitoring. The legislation acknowledges the heightened risks that public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, pose to pregnant individuals and infants, especially among marginalized populations.
Contention
Despite the positive outlook from proponents who see this bill as essential to improving maternal health in emergencies, there may be points of contention regarding the allocation of funds and implementation strategies. Critics might argue that the reliance on surveillance and data collection could divert resources from direct care and support services for pregnant individuals. Additionally, ensuring that health interventions are inclusive and adequately address the specific needs of vulnerable populations will be a continuous challenge as the bill is implemented.
Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2023, as the sixth annual "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.
A resolution recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2023, as the sixth annual "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.
Standing with Moms Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to disseminate information about pregnancy-related resources. Specifically, HHS must maintain a public website (life.gov) that lists such resources that are available through federal, state, and local governments and private entities. Additionally, HHS must maintain on its website a portal that provides a user, based on the user's responses to a series of questions, tailored information about pregnancy resources available in the user's zip code and risks related to abortion. HHS must develop a plan to conduct follow-up outreach to users of the portal (if the user consents to the outreach). States must recommend resources that meet criteria set by HHS for including through the portal. HHS may award grants to states to establish or support a system that aggregates resources to include on the portal. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration must share information about life.gov and the portal through the Maternal Mental Health Hotline. HHS must also ensure that the life.gov website and hotline are available to families who speak languages other than English. The bill excludes from life.gov, the portal, and the hotline resources provided by entities that (1) perform, induce, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortions; or (2) financially support such entities. The bill also requires HHS to report on traffic to life.gov and the portal, gaps in services available to pregnant and postpartum individuals, and related matters.