Reps. Kelly, Kim, Meuser, Schrier Introduce Legislation to Support Rural Maternal Health

May 13, 2024

Vermilion County First | By Steve Brandy

Representatives Kelly (IL-02), Kim (CA-40), Meuser (PA-09), and Schrier (WA-08) introduced the bipartisan Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act to support rural health care facilities providing critical obstetric care.

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act will support rural hospitals and doctors prepare to handle the obstetric emergencies by:

Directing the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health to create an obstetric emergency training program for rural health care facilities that do not have a dedicated labor & delivery unit;
Establishing new federal grants for rural health care facilities to purchase necessary equipment to carry out obstetrics readiness training and response;
Creating a pilot program to support a statewide or regional network of obstetric and maternal health care teams that can provide urgent teleconsultation to rural facilities; and
Directing HHS to study maternity ward closures, regional patterns of patient transport, and models for regional partnerships for rural obstetric care.

“Expecting mothers in rural Pennsylvania deserve nothing less than exceptional obstetric health care,” said Congressman Dan Meuser. “This legislation aims to tackle the maternal health crisis facing our country. The introduction of targeted federal grants will equip rural health care facilities with the capacity to handle obstetric emergencies with advanced technologies and trainings. I’m pleased to co-lead this crucial bill, as it will deliver essential resources directly to rural health facilities, offering much-needed support to mothers and children.”