President Signs Into Law Bipartisan Legislation Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Improve Access to Maternal Care in Rural and Underserved Areas

WASHINGTON – President Trump this week signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan to improve access to maternal care in rural and underserved areas in New Hampshire and throughout the United States. The bipartisan Improving Access to Maternity Care Act will help reduce shortages in maternity care by identifying areas lacking maternal health professionals and incentivizing providers to practice in these underserved communities. This bill would create a designation for maternity care for use under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which would help the NHSC to boost the maternity care workforce in underserved areas through its loan repayment and scholarship programs. The legislation was introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

“It is extremely concerning that in rural areas of New Hampshire and across the country, women are not able to receive the prenatal care that is essential to a healthy birth, putting both the woman and their child at risk” Senator Hassan said. “Access to high quality maternity care should not depend on one’s zip code, and this bill will help incentivize health care providers to practice in the communities that need them most.” 

Another bipartisan bill, the Maternal Health Accountability Act, which Senator Hassan cosponsored to help prevent maternal deaths is also on its way to the President’s desk. The bipartisan legislation would help states establish and sustain maternal mortality review committees to better understand the causes of maternal deaths in order to inform prevention efforts.

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