Tech to Save Moms Act
- Bill Number
- S. 958
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T13:59:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Tech to Save Moms Act" (S. 958) aims to improve maternal health outcomes by promoting the integration and expansion of technology in maternity care. It focuses on enhancing access to telehealth, digital tools, and collaborative learning models, particularly for underserved populations, rural areas, and communities facing high rates of maternal mortality or disparities. The goal is to support screening, monitoring, training, and equity in care during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum.
Key Provisions
- Telehealth Integration in Medicaid Innovation Models (Sec. 2): Amends the Social Security Act to allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Innovation Center to test telehealth tools for screening, monitoring, and managing common pregnancy-related health issues under Medicaid (Title XIX). This covers care during pregnancy and up to one year after birth. The change takes effect one year after enactment.
- Grants for Technology-Enabled Learning and Capacity Building (Sec. 3): Adds a new section to the Public Health Service Act directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award one five-year grant (starting one year after enactment) to an eligible entity. Funds ($6 million annually from fiscal years 2026–2030) support:
- Training providers on safety, bias/racism, mental health/substance use screening, public health emergencies, social determinants of health, and remote monitoring tools.
- Evaluating impacts on care access, quality, patient outcomes, and provider experiences.
- Developing best practices and measures for these models, which involve interactive video conferencing for case-based learning and sharing best practices.
- Permissible uses include hardware/software for distance learning and secure health data exchange.
- Targets health professional shortage areas (regions with few providers), high-mortality/morbidity areas, rural/underserved areas, disparity zones, and medically underserved groups, including American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- HHS must provide technical assistance, coordinate broadband access, and develop a research plan. Grantees report on outcomes; HHS submits a congressional report after four years.
- Grants for Digital Tools to Promote Equity (Sec. 4): HHS awards one five-year grant (starting one year after enactment) to an eligible entity to reduce maternal health disparities using digital tools like early warning systems (alerts for risks) and clinical decision support (tech aiding provider choices). Funds ($6 million annually from fiscal years 2026–2030) prioritize high-risk, shortage, or rural areas and tools addressing disparities. Includes technical assistance and reporting; HHS's four-year congressional report evaluates effectiveness (especially for racial/ethnic minorities) and recommends improvements in privacy, reimbursement, data analysis, telehealth barriers, consumer apps, broadband access, data sharing with nutrition programs, and COVID-19 lessons.
- Study and Report on Technology in Maternity Care (Sec. 5): Within 60 days of enactment, HHS contracts with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a study (report due within 24 months) on:
- Use of innovative tech (e.g., artificial intelligence) and patient monitoring devices (e.g., pulse oximeters for oxygen levels) in maternal care.
- Their impact on racial/ethnic biases.
- Best practices to reduce biases, improve care for minorities, and ensure privacy/security.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds telehealth for maternal care as a testable model in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, expanding beyond current Medicaid telehealth limits to include postpartum monitoring up to one year.
- Inserts new grant programs into the Public Health Service Act, creating dedicated funding for technology in maternal training and equity tools—previously, such efforts relied on broader or ad-hoc health grants.
- Introduces definitions (e.g., "technology-enabled collaborative learning model" as interactive video for provider education; "severe maternal morbidity" as serious pregnancy-related health issues) to standardize terms in federal maternal health policy.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS gains new responsibilities for grant administration, technical assistance, research planning, and reporting, potentially increasing workload but also leveraging expertise in health innovation. Could lead to better data on maternal health tech, informing future policies.
- On Citizens: Improves access to remote monitoring and care for pregnant/postpartum individuals, especially in rural or underserved areas, potentially reducing complications, mortality, and disparities. Training on biases and social factors may enhance provider sensitivity and care quality.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though best practices from the National Academies study could influence global health tech standards indirectly through U.S. leadership in maternal health.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals: Especially racial/ethnic minorities, rural residents, those in shortage areas, and American Indians/Alaska Natives, who may gain better access to screening, monitoring, and equitable care.
- Maternal Health Providers and Trainees: Doctors, nurses, and students benefit from training, tech tools, and collaborative models, potentially improving retention in underserved areas.
- Eligible Entities: Nonprofits, health organizations, tribes, and urban Indian groups that provide or support maternal care and can apply for grants.
- HHS and Congress: HHS implements and evaluates programs; Congress receives reports to guide oversight and funding.
- Technology Providers: Companies developing telehealth, AI, and monitoring devices may see expanded use and opportunities for secure, bias-mitigating innovations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for telehealth under Medicaid without altering core eligibility, but emphasizes privacy/security in digital tools (e.g., secure data exchange), aligning with laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which protects health information). Grant limits (one per program) ensure focused implementation but may limit broad participation.
- Constitutional: Supports equal protection by targeting disparities, potentially advancing health equity without raising federalism issues, as it builds on existing Medicaid and public health authorities.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Sens. Lujan and Sullivan) highlights consensus on maternal health crises. Authorizes $12 million annually (total ~$60 million over five years), requiring future appropriations—could spark debates on funding priorities amid budget constraints. The focus on biases and emergencies (e.g., COVID-19) may influence broader telehealth reimbursement policies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-03-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Tech to Save Moms Act — issued 2025-03-11 — PDF (17 pages)