WASHINGTON DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) released the following statements after the Senate passed their bipartisan Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act, which would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to identify areas where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with lack of access to broadband services in order to pinpoint where telehealth services can be most effective. Senators Rosen and Fischer were joined by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in introducing this legislation last year.
“Our country has seen a dramatic increase in maternal mortality over the last few decades, which is why we need to work to improve maternal health outcomes for women in Nevada and across the country,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “By mapping out areas with a need for both increased maternal care and access to broadband, we can better target where telemedicine improvements will be most effective to improve outcomes for expecting mothers and save lives. I am glad that my bipartisan legislation to address this issue passed the Senate unanimously and is one step closer to becoming law.”
“Expectant mothers in many rural communities often still lack reliable access to critical maternal health resources,” said Senator Fischer. “The limited availability of in-person care close-by is often exacerbated by poor broadband connections that make taking advantage of telehealth services difficult. I’m glad to see our bipartisan bill, which would address these issues by mapping where maternal health and broadband needs overlap, pass the Senate.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), severe complications related to pregnancy, known as severe maternal morbidity, affect over 50,000 women in the U.S. each year.
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