0
0

Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act

3/13/2025, 8:07 AM

Summary of Bill HR 1254

Bill 119 HR 1254, also known as the "Improving Obstetric Emergency Care Act," aims to enhance the quality of emergency care for pregnant women and new mothers in the United States. The bill focuses on improving the training and resources available to healthcare providers who treat obstetric emergencies.

One key provision of the bill is the establishment of a grant program to support hospitals and healthcare facilities in implementing best practices for obstetric emergency care. This includes training staff on how to recognize and respond to emergencies such as hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and other complications that can arise during pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, the bill calls for the development of standardized protocols and guidelines for obstetric emergency care, with the goal of ensuring that all healthcare providers are equipped to provide timely and effective treatment to pregnant women in crisis situations. Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the importance of data collection and analysis to identify trends and disparities in obstetric emergency care outcomes. By tracking and reporting on these metrics, policymakers and healthcare providers can work together to address systemic issues and improve overall maternal health outcomes. Overall, Bill 119 HR 1254 represents a bipartisan effort to prioritize the health and safety of pregnant women and new mothers by enhancing the quality of obstetric emergency care across the country. If passed, this legislation has the potential to save lives and improve the overall well-being of women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Congressional Summary of HR 1254

Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act

This 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. 

Current Status of Bill HR 1254

Bill HR 1254 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 12, 2025. Bill HR 1254 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on February 12, 2025.  Bill HR 1254's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. as of February 12, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1254

Total Number of Sponsors
6
Democrat Sponsors
6
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
12
Democrat Cosponsors
6
Republican Cosponsors
6
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1254

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1254

To improve obstetric emergency care.
To improve obstetric emergency care.

Comments

Sylas Erickson profile image

Sylas Erickson

523

9 months ago

This bill is a joke. It's like putting a bandaid on a broken leg. How is this supposed to help rural communities when there are so many other issues at play? Will this really make a difference in the short term?