Neal and Pallone Applaud Biden-Harris Administration Efforts to Address Maternal Health Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC--Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services today in support of the Biden Administration’s proposed rule to address the national maternal health crisis. 

“This proposed rule would protect the health and safety of pregnant women and postpartum patients, improve maternal health for women across the country and reduce disparities in maternal health,” Neal and Pallone wrote. “We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to cut the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and to address this crisis with the urgency it demands. We strongly support the policies in the proposed rule and urge CMS to swiftly finalize the rule following the public comment period.”

The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any wealthy country in the world and the highest of any developed nation. In 2022, there were 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the United States, more than double the rate of other high-income countries. The maternal health crisis disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities with women of color significantly more likely to face maternal morbidity and two to four times more likely to experience maternal mortality than White women.

“We strongly support the proposals for new conditions of participation (CoP) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals for obstetrical services,” the Democratic Committee leaders continued. “We are concerned that there are currently no federal baseline requirements for maternal health including for staffing, training, and quality assessment. We believe the provisions in the proposed rule will protect patient health and safety, and are pleased CMS is exercising its statutory authority to require CoPs for obstetrical care. Requiring CoPs for obstetrical care would standardize care across hospitals and improve the quality and safety of maternal care across the nation, protecting the health and safety of pregnant and postpartum women.”

In their letter, Neal and Pallone highlighted specific policy proposals in the rule they strongly support and urged the Biden-Harris Administration to finalize them as soon as possible. 

In addition to finalizing the proposed rule, the Committee leaders urged the Administration to extend the emergency services conditions of participation to rural emergency hospitals so that they are also required to have clear protocols specific to maternity care, including the stabilization or transference of patients.  

To read the full letter, click HERE.  

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