In an op-ed for Fierce Healthcare, Robyn Begley, AHA chief nursing officer and CEO for its American Organization for Nursing Leadership, discusses how hospitals and health systems are redoubling our efforts to make sure women have safe pregnancies and positive health outcomes. For more on the AHA’s Better Health for Mothers and Babies initiative, visit https://www.aha.org/better-health-for-mothers-and-babies.
Maternal and Child Health News
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by Robyn Begley, DNP, RN, CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Infants may be 4% to 147% more likely to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution the week before they were born, depending on the type of pollution.
The AHA recently participated in a meeting of an American Academy of Family Physicians task force that will recommend evidence-based strategies to improve maternal health and reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality.
Community-based organizations and others can apply through July 15 for funding to address maternal health disparities and improve outcomes.
Leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions today released the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 – bipartisan discussion draft legislation focused on reducing health care costs. Among other areas, the bill would take steps to end surprise medical bills, reduce the prices of prescription drugs, improve transparency in health care, boost public health, and improve the exchange of health information technology.
U.S. birth rates declined for the fourth consecutive year with only 3.78 million babies born in 2018, the fewest in over three decades, according to a report released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The House Ways and Means Committee today held a hearing examining the impact of racial disparities and social determinants of health on maternal mortality.
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday published draft guidance to promote clinical studies to increase drug safety information for pregnant and nursing women and their providers.
by Talia Schmidt
Now in its third year, the March for Moms is an annual march in Washington, D.C., to urge policymakers to dedicate more funding and pass legislation to help improve maternal health in the U.S.
An estimated 31 percent of pregnancy-related deaths occur during pregnancy, 36 percent during delivery or the week after, and 33 percent one week to one year after delivery.
The AHA today voiced support for provisions in the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act (H.R. 1897/S. 916) that would improve state maternal mortality data, provide funding to promote safety practices and cultural competency, and extend health coverage and services for low-income postpartum women.
As the AHA and its members continue to address maternal mortality, the association today voiced support for the Joint Commission’s recently proposed standards for perinatal safety.
by Rick Pollack
With our Better Health for Mothers and Babies initiative, America’s hospitals and health systems are enhancing our commitment to improving maternal health.
The Health Resources and Services Administration will host a webinar for applying for grants to coordinate maternal and obstetrics care in rural regions.
Penn Medicine in Philadelphia uses remote monitoring to check on postpartum women with hypertension; Samaritan Health Services in Corvallis, Ore., screens vulnerable pregnant women; and hospitals and community organizations throughout Northern New England team up to address the spectrum of perinatal care.
The Health Resources and Services Administration expects to award up to $9 million over four years to develop a sustainable network approach to coordinate maternal and obstetrics care in rural regions.
The Health Resources and Services Administration yesterday awarded $100 million in grants to improve infant mortality rates and maternal health outcomes in vulnerable communities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is accepting applications through May 8 for $43.5 million in grants to support agencies and organizations that coordinate and manage maternal mortality review committees.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force today recommended that clinicians provide or refer pregnant and postpartum women who are at increased risk for perinatal depression to counseling interventions.