Collins, Stabenow Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fund New Community Partnerships to Address High Rate of Maternal and Infant Mortality

Statement

U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act, a bipartisan bill to provide funding for new community partnerships to address the high rate of maternal and infant mortality. The United States has the worst rate of maternal deaths in the developed world and one of the highest rates of infant mortality.

The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act would improve maternity care for women and newborns by providing funding for regional care quality partnerships. These partnerships will bring together states, health care providers, insurance companies, and other stakeholders to develop and carry out new strategies to improve maternity and infant care. The legislation would also set higher care standards in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid currently lacks adequate maternal and infant health measures that providers need to improve outcomes.

"Many states have taken the lead to promote maternal and infant health by sharing best practices and developing comprehensive health care plans for mothers and their children. The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act would build on this success by authorizing funding to support existing collaboratives and encouraging new ones. It would also support new quality measures in the CHIP and Medicaid programs to monitor progress more accurately," said Senator Collins. "I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this bipartisan bill to ensure mothers and infants receive quality health care."

"The high rate of maternal and infant mortality in this country is completely unacceptable; we must do better," said Senator Stabenow. "Our bill will help doctors, hospitals, and states save the lives of both moms and babies."

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