Portman proposes bipartisan bill providing federal support to pregnancy medical homes

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) on Oct. 26 proposed bipartisan legislation that would amend the Social Security Act to give states the option to provide coordinated care through a pregnancy medical home for high-risk pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid.

Sen. Portman sponsored the Harnessing Effective and Appropriate Long Term Health for Moms on Medicaid (HEALTH for MOM) Act, S. 4863, with cosponsor U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to help standardize the means for Medicaid to pay for and support the pregnancy medical home model, which has been found to improve maternal health outcomes for high-risk pregnant women.

“Every year, nearly 700 women die in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications with a majority of those deaths disproportionately affecting women of color. This is unacceptable,” Sen. Portman said. “My legislation will work to address this devastating issue by providing high-risk, expectant mothers with the option to enroll in a pregnancy medical home where they can be taken care of by a team of health care professionals.”

If enacted, S. 4863 would allow the state option for providers to enroll in a pregnancy medical home, which then could coordinate access to necessary maternity care services and programs through the development of a comprehensive, patient-centered care plan that would include ongoing home care, community-based primary care, inpatient care, social support services, and local hospital emergency care, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Portman’s office.

Additionally, a pregnancy medical home would provide high-risk pregnant women with prevention and treatment of mental health or substance use services, and work with other federal social services to connect enrolled women with services addressing the social determinants of health that may impact their overall wellness, among other provisions, the summary says.

“It is unconscionable that the United States has some of the most cutting-edge and innovative healthcare in the world, yet so many mothers, particularly women of color, die or suffer serious complications during childbirth,” said Sen. Stabenow. “Our bill will help close this gap in care and services.”

The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.