Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine Act; Healthy MOM Act
Summary
The Healthy MOM Act aims to improve maternal and newborn health by ensuring access to affordable health coverage for pregnant women. It introduces special enrollment periods for pregnant individuals under the Public Health Service Act and the Affordable Care Act. The bill also mandates maternity care coverage for dependent children under group health plans and extends Medicaid and CHIP coverage for pregnant and postpartum individuals.
Expected Effects
This act would expand access to healthcare for pregnant women, potentially reducing maternal mortality rates and improving health outcomes for both mothers and newborns. It also addresses disparities in maternal health outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups. The changes to Medicaid and CHIP aim to provide continuous coverage throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Potential Benefits
- Increased access to affordable maternity care.
- Reduced maternal mortality rates, especially among women of color.
- Improved health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns.
- Continuous healthcare coverage during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Addresses sex-based discrimination by ensuring maternity coverage for dependent daughters.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential increased costs for health insurance plans.
- Possible administrative burdens for implementing special enrollment periods.
- The effective date is set for 2027, delaying immediate benefits.
- Some provisions rely on the Secretary to promulgate regulations, introducing uncertainty.
- Potential for increased government spending on Medicaid and CHIP.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Healthy MOM Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which includes health insurance markets. The Act's provisions related to Medicaid and CHIP fall under Congress's power to provide for the general welfare through taxation and spending.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).