Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05), Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) Introduce Connected MOM Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05), along with Congresswomen Frankel, Salazar, and Castor, co-introduced the Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act. This bill seeks to improve maternal and child health outcomes during both pregnancy and postpartum stages.

This bill aims to address barriers in remote maternal health and enable physicians to remotely monitor their pregnant patients and requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide recommendations and resources to state Medicaid programs on how to increase coverage of devices that aid in remote monitoring. 

“As a mom of two children myself, maternal health has always been an issue near and dear to my heart. However, it is often overlooked and not easily accessible, especially in rural districts like mine,” said Rep. Letlow. “I am proud to co-lead this legislation that will increase the access pregnant women have to high-quality remote care, and makes this flexible care more affordable. The benefits will be felt in the Fifth District of Louisiana and far beyond.”

“The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in any developed nation in the world, disproportionately impacting communities of color,” said Rep. Frankel. “Virtual medical monitoring can identify pregnancy and postpartum complications, aiding medical providers and improving health outcomes for expectant mothers and their children.”

“Ensuring that expectant mothers have access to every tool necessary is vital to supporting maternal health and to our nation’s future,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am proud to co-lead legislation that would give new and expecting mothers and their children the head-start they deserve with the best technology our country has to offer.”

“Medicaid is key to keeping moms and infants healthy and well,” said Rep. Castor. “The bipartisan Connected MOM Act will help ensure that families have access to the technology needed for a safe pregnancy. Together, we can reduce maternal mortality and improve outcomes for children too through expanded and modern care delivery.”

"We express our heartfelt gratitude to Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Lois Frankel, María Elvira Salazar, and Kathy Castor for their backing of the ConnectedMOM Act,” said Joseph R. Biggio Jr., MD MSHQS, Ochsner Health System Women’s Services and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Chair. “This crucial piece of legislation is set to enhance health results for mothers and babies nationwide, with a special emphasis on marginalized communities. Ochsner has been at the forefront of local and statewide endeavors to widen the reach of obstetric care, and we take immense pride in the fact that our ground-breaking digital maternal health program has been an inspiration for this significant bill. By providing digital health equipment to Medicaid patients for monitoring vital parameters like blood pressure, we will be promoting inclusivity, diminishing health gaps and elevating the quality of life for mothers and their children."

The bill was inspired by the Connected Maternity Online Monitoring program established by Ochsner Health. Ochsner provides program participants with equipment for at-home checks to both catch potential issues early and reduce the number of in-person clinic visits.

A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D (R-LA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).