Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act
Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act
Plain Language Summary
# Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would create and expand federal grant programs to help rural areas and communities lacking obstetric services improve their ability to handle pregnancy and childbirth emergencies. Specifically, it would fund hospitals and healthcare networks to train staff, develop obstetric workforces, and purchase equipment needed for maternal health emergencies. The bill also establishes a pilot program to expand telehealth services, allowing remote areas to access obstetric expertise through technology. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects rural communities and areas experiencing shortages of obstetricians and maternal health specialists. It would help rural hospitals and healthcare facilities improve services, ultimately benefiting pregnant women and families in these underserved regions.
Healthcare providers, medical training programs, and local governments would also be involved in implementing these programs. **Current Status** The bill (S. 380) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. No significant progress toward passage has been reported.
CRS Official Summary
Rural Obstetrics Readiness ActThis bill creates and expands federal grant programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to increase capacity to provide emergency obstetric health services in rural areas or areas without practitioners or facilities specializing in obstetric services. Specifically, HRSA must establish a program for providing grants to certain hospitals or consortiums that include hospitals in rural areas or areas with maternal health care professional shortages for training, developing a workforce, and purchasing equipment relating to obstetric emergencies. In addition, the bill requires HRSA’s Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Capacity program to provide grants for training on emergency obstetric services for practitioners in rural health care facilities without dedicated obstetric units. HRSA must also establish a pilot program to provide grants to government entities for developing or improving telehealth access programs to support urgent maternal health care in rural facilities without a dedicated obstetric unit.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.