(Des Moines, IA) — There's a proposal in the United States Congress aimed at improving maternal health care for those on Medicaid. The Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long-Term Health for Moms on Medicaid, or HEALTH for MOM Act, would provide federal funding to build what Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA 03) called "maternal health homes."
"More than two million women live in a maternity care desert," Nunn said. "Meaning counties that don't have the ability to help them. Right here in Iowa, 33 out of the 99 counties fall into the maternal health desert."
The bill would provide grants to states to help build facilities for high-risk pregnant women on Medicaid. These facilities are designed to coordinate patient-centered services.
"Whether you're in a rural area with a small clinic or county hospital, or whether you're in an underserved area, we want to ensure every mom has equal access to this," Nunn said. "This bill specifically focuses on Medicaid and those who live in underserved and often rural communities where care is most expensive and least available."
Nunn said the proposal has gained bipartisan support.