Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) reintroduced the bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act to help pregnant and new mothers stay healthy and safe.

“As a mom and now a grandmother, I know how important it is for expectant mothers to feel safe and supported every step of the way,” said Rep. Frankel. “Too many women in our country face preventable complications during pregnancy and after childbirth, especially women of color. By giving doctors the tools to monitor moms virtually, we can catch problems early, save lives, and give families the healthy start they deserve.”

The bill would make it easier for health care professionals to use modern technology,  including devices and services that allow remote monitoring for conditions like high blood pressure, to check for life-threatening complications during pregnancy and after childbirth. It direcs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide guidance and resources to state Medicaid programs on covering these devices, helping expand access nationwide, give families peace of mind, and improve outcomes for moms and their babies.

The bill is supported by several health advocacy groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), March of Dimes, and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

“There are several states where pregnant patients have to drive nearly an hour or more to a hospital with a labor and delivery unit, and we will likely see an increasing number of patients experience challenges in accessing prenatal care in their communities in the years ahead. The timely reintroduction of the bipartisan Connected MOM Act would provide states with resources to help make it easier for pregnant patients to access care by allowing them to monitor their blood pressure and glucose levels through remote medical devices. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists fully supports this legislation as it would decrease the need for unnecessary office visits while also potentially increasing adherence to evidence-based prenatal care plans. Things like remote monitoring and telehealth have also shown clear maternal health benefits by not only improving access to care but also addressing socioeconomic and racial health inequities. ACOG applauds the leadership of Representatives Frankel, Salazar, Castor, and Letlow for remaining steadfast in their efforts to improve maternal health outcomes,” said Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

“The American Medical Association commends Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Julia Letlow (R-LA) for introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that will make a meaningful difference in the fight to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity,” said Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., President of the American Medical Association (AMA). “Patients and physicians recognize that telehealth and remote patient monitoring services offer effective and convenient health care. The AMA believes this legislation would significantly improve maternal and infant health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women across the U.S., especially for those who are high-risk, lower income, and live in rural areas.”

“The American College of Cardiology believes the Connected MOM Act is a vital step to ensuring every pregnant patient, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers, has access to life-saving remote monitoring tools. This legislation represents a commonsense, bipartisan effort to modernize maternal care and improve outcomes for high-risk patients. By expanding access to remote monitoring, we enable earlier detection of complications such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes and can ensure a timely intervention. The ACC strongly supports this effort to align policy with clinical innovation to make pregnancy safer and more equitable for all,” said Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC, President of the American College of Cardiology.

“March of Dimes research shows that more than 2.3 million women of childbearing age and over 150,000 babies live in counties called maternity care deserts—places with no or limited access to maternity care services—forcing families to find new ways to get the care they need. To help ensure every mom has the healthiest pregnancy and birth, we must advance policies that expand telehealth and access to remote monitoring devices,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes, Sr. Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs. “The bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act, sponsored by Reps. Frankel, Salazar, Castor, and Letlow, and Sens. Cassidy and Hassan, takes important steps to require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen state resources-- like Medicaid telehealth toolkits--and issue coverage recommendations for devices that track blood pressure, blood glucose, and pulse rates which can be early indicators of pregnancy complications. This legislation can help providers act sooner, improve outcomes, and save lives.”

“There is an unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality in the U.S., particularly in underserved communities. Telehealth can provide a valuable solution to help prevent maternal deaths and adverse health outcomes, and we fully support the bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act to help solve gaps in care for high-risk expectant mothers enrolled in Medicaid. Our thanks go to Congresswoman Lois Frankel and her co-authors in the House, Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Kathy Castor, and Julia Letlow, and their Congressional counterparts, Senators Bill Cassidy and Maggie Hassan, for reintroducing this essential legislation. By reducing barriers to regular prenatal and postpartum care using remote monitoring tools, we can effectively improve maternal and child health outcomes,” said Kyle Zebley, ATA Executive Director, Senior Vice President of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

For full text of the bill, click here.

###