{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/07/2020/new-toomey-brown-measure-aims-to-reduce-maternal-deaths-improve-health-outcomes-for-mothers", "New Toomey-Brown Measure Aims to Reduce Maternal Deaths, Improve Health Outcomes for Mothers", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Pat Toomey\r\n(R-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are teaming up to help reduce maternal\r\ndeaths and improve the health outcomes of pregnant women and mothers enrolled\r\nin Medicaid.  In recent years, physicians and researchers have placed a heightened\r\nfocus on preventable pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. Research\r\nshows that the leading causes of death related to pregnancy are\r\ncardiovascular and coronary conditions, following by infections, hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia\r\nand eclampsia, and cardiomyopathy. Decreasing severe maternal morbidity will\r\nhelp decrease maternal mortality. In 2018, Medicaid financed nearly half of all\r\nUS births, and in some states, provided coverage for more than 60 percent of\r\nbirths.While the Medicaid program plays a critical role in addressing our\r\nnation's maternal mortality crisis,pregnant women on Medicaid aremore likely to experience higher ratesof\r\nsevere maternal morbidity and mortality than pregnant women with private health\r\ninsurance.Medicaid beneficiaries, overrepresented by low-income\r\ncommunities and people of color, experience higher rates of chronic illnesses,\r\nand are at higher risk of adverse health challenges. Senators Toomey and Brown\r\nhave introduced theSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms\r\nActto bolster the federal government's effort to assist states in\r\nreducing these rates.  Nearly 700 women died last year in the United States as a result\r\nof complications from pregnancy and childbirth. But we know that as many as\r\ntwo-thirds of these deaths may be preventable,said Senator Toomey.\r\nThis legislation will help improve health outcomes for pregnant women and\r\nmothers enrolled in Medicaid by increasing information and resources to better\r\nmonitor and treat at-risk pregnancies, as well as inform Congress on policies\r\nthat may assist states in reducing maternal deaths.  A mother's chance of surviving pregnancy shouldn't depend on her\r\nzip code or the type of insurance she has, said Brown.Too many\r\nmothers are dying. As the death rate continues to skyrocket, the disparities in\r\nmaternal mortality have increased along with it, further contributing to the\r\nBlack maternal health crisis - and that has to change. By meeting moms where\r\nthey are, listening to health experts, and establishing best practices, we can\r\nimprove health outcomes and keep more of our mothers and children healthy and\r\nsafe.  The following organizations have provided integral information and\r\nsupport for theSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act:  America's\r\nEssential Hospitals  American\r\nCollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  Einstein\r\nHealthcare Network  Good\r\nShepherd Rehabilitation Network  The\r\nHospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP)  The\r\nJoint Commission  Nemours\r\nChildren's Health System  Penn\r\nState Health  The\r\nPennsylvania Medical Society  Temple\r\nUniversity Health System  University\r\nHospitals Cleveland Medical Center  UPMC\r\nMagee-Womens Hospital TheSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Actwould: 1.Create\r\na diverse, representative National Advisory Committee on Reducing Maternal\r\nDeaths to: a.Establish\r\nbest practices for all Medicaid-covered maternal care providers and clinicians\r\nto screen, monitor, and treat at-risk pregnancies; b.Generate\r\nculturally competent materials to help inform pregnant women of potential risks\r\nduring pregnancy, birth, and postpartum; and c.Identify\r\nbest practice for tracking maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity\r\ntrends. 2.Report\r\nto Congress on potential payment disincentives or regulatory barriers to the\r\ntransfer of pregnant women between facilities before and during birth, as well\r\nas during the postpartum period.  A one-pager on this legislation is availablehere. You can also view the bill texthere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/07/2020/new-toomey-brown-measure-aims-to-reduce-maternal-deaths-improve-health-outcomes-for-mothers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.067098092287779, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}