On Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee advanced the bipartisan Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, sponsored by U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama; U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire; U.S. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine; and U.S. Senator Tina Smith, D-Minnesota.
Reintroduced earlier this year, the bill would help rural health care facilities provide urgent obstetric care. It would create training programs to help nonspecialists respond to emergencies, including labor and delivery complications; provide federal grants to rural facilities for training and equipment; and establish a pilot teleconsultation program that would allow rural doctors to consult maternal health care experts during obstetric emergencies.
Britt celebrated the bill’s advancement in a statement.
“Across the nation, rural communities face challenges every single day that make it more difficult for women to safely give birth,” Britt said. “This is especially true in Alabama, where more than one-third of our 67 counties are considered maternal care deserts. Of the 54 hospitals in these areas, only 15 have maternity wards. This is a problem Congress can address, which is why I’m thrilled this legislation is advancing in the Senate.”
Britt’s office cited Alabama’s ongoing rural health care crisis, including the closure of at least seven rural hospitals since 2011 and the “immediate risk” status of 19 others. It also cited the 2023 closure of maternity units at three hospitals, leaving Shelby and Monroe counties without obstetric care.
“Almost 30 percent of women in Alabama do not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of their homes, which is significantly higher than the national average,” Britt said. “Those 30 minutes could mean the difference between a safe delivery and a potentially dangerous one. We must give our communities the tools they need to remedy this issue. Alabama women deserve access to high-quality care throughout their pregnancy journeys, no matter their ZIP code.”
After passing the Senate HELP Committee, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act will move to the Senate floor for a vote.
Companion legislation in the U.S. House, sponsored by U.S. Representative Young Kim, R-California; U.S. Representative Robin Kelly, D-Illinois; U.S. Representative Daniel Meuser, R-Pennsylvania; and U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, D-Washington, awaits consideration by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
