House hearing responds to maternal mortality data

Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, noted that several new bills will address health care disparities and health coverage in maternal health. A Sept. 10 subcommittee hearing, at which Pallone spoke, referenced a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which details an increase in racial and ethnic disparities among pregnancy-related deaths between 2007 and 2016. According to Pallone, several bills before Congress would follow up on last year’s maternal health legislation (H.R.1318) by improving health care coverage for new mothers; extending access to regular check-ups for high blood pressure and other underlying conditions; and authorizing and strengthening the Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health and Safety, which helps health systems implement evidence-based practices. (Healthcare Purchasing News story, 9/11/19)