South Iowa News

DES MOINES — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) announced bipartisan legislation aimed at improving access to maternity care for low-income women. The Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long-Term Health for Moms on Medicaid Act (HEALTH for MOM) Act, co-led by U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), seeks to provide grants to states to assist with coordinated maternity care through maternal health homes for pregnant women on Medicaid.

“The maternal health crisis is very real, and we need to act now to save more lives,” said Rep. Nunn. “By incentivizing states to support pregnant women through coordinated and comprehensive care, we’ll make it easier for moms to have the assistance they need and deserve.”

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 80% of maternal deaths could be prevented with proper care. Nearly 2 million women live in areas without access to maternity care, known as maternity care deserts. In Iowa's Third Congressional District, ten of the twenty-one counties are considered maternity deserts.

“The United States is facing a maternal mortality crisis that is taking hundreds of lives every year and is only getting worse,” said Rep. Underwood. “I’m proud to work alongside my colleagues Rep. Nunn and Rep. Pressley on this legislation that will work with the Momnibus Act to make it easier for moms to access coordinated and comprehensive maternal healthcare.”

Last year, over 400,000 babies were born in counties with limited or no access to maternity care. Healthcare costs related to pregnancy are often prohibitive, averaging nearly $19,000 per birth or $2,854 in out-of-pocket costs for those with health insurance.

“My grandmother died during childbirth in the 1950s, and it is shameful that decades later we continue to have a maternal morbidity crisis that is killing our loved ones and destabilizing our communities,” said Rep. Pressley. “Our bill would help address the maternal morbidity crisis—which disproportionately impacts Black and low-income folks—by helping vulnerable families access high-quality, culturally congruent maternal care."

Research indicates that increased access to maternity care can reduce pregnancy-related complications significantly. For instance, one visit to a maternal health home has been shown to lower emergency room visits and inpatient hospital days associated with pregnancy.

“Access to quality care is vital both during pregnancy and beyond," said Aaron Todd, Chief Executive Officer of the Iowa Primary Care Association. "As we continue seeing issues in accessing maternal care in Iowa and throughout the country, tackling these challenges together ensures equitable access."

The HEALTH for MOM Act aims at creating grants assisting states in providing coordinated care through a maternal health home model designed specifically for high-risk pregnant women on Medicaid.

The announcement was made during a press conference at Primary Health Care in Des Moines—home of Iowa’s first pilot program for a maternal health home.