A small group of senators is pushing legislation that would establish a set of maternal care quality measures under the Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance programs.
The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act (S. 466), introduced Feb. 11, instructs the Health & Human Services secretary to develop a set of measures to assess the quality of care provided during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The measures would apply to clinicians and group practices, hospitals, health plans, and accountable care organizations.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
The bill was introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and cosponsored by a handful of Democrats in the Senate. A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the House.
Sen. Stabenow introduced the same bill in 2013, but it stalled in committee.
The bill would require HHS to seek public comments on a set of proposed measures by Jan. 1, 2018, with the publication of an initial measure set by Jan. 1, 2019. Measures would be evidence based and risk adjusted.
Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, praised the introduction of the bill.
“Our country’s infant and maternal mortality rates are too high, and our performance on prematurity, low-birth-weight babies, cesareans, early elective deliveries, and exclusive breastfeeding lags behind that of many other nations,” she said in a statement. “We simply must improve the quality of care for both mothers and babies – and this legislation can do that.”
mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com
On Twitter @maryellenny