Tech to Save Moms Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 11, 2025
Bottom line
This bill seeks to leverage telehealth, digital tools, and collaborative learning models to enhance maternal health care access and quality, particularly for underserved populations, with a focus on addressing health disparities and biases.
What it actually does
The "Tech to Save Moms Act" aims to improve maternal health outcomes by expanding the use of technology. It amends the Social Security Act to allow states to use Medicaid waivers for telehealth tools in pregnancy and postpartum care, establishes grant programs for technology-enabled collaborative learning models and digital tools to reduce health disparities, and mandates a study by the National Academies on technology and patient monitoring devices in maternity care, including their impact on racial and ethnic biases.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that technology, including telehealth and remote monitoring, can significantly improve access to quality maternal care, especially in rural and underserved areas, and help address the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. They emphasize the bill's focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities and providing training on implicit bias and best practices for maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
Opponents contend
Critics might raise concerns about the digital divide, arguing that increased reliance on technology could exacerbate disparities for individuals without reliable internet access or appropriate devices. They might also question the effectiveness of technology alone without addressing underlying systemic issues in healthcare access and quality, or express privacy concerns related to the secure exchange of electronic health information.
The bill is concise and clearly structured, making it accessible for an informed reader to evaluate within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 2(a)
Integrated Telehealth Models in Maternity Care Services
This section amends the Social Security Act to allow states to use Medicaid demonstration waivers (Section 1115A) to adopt and use telehealth tools. These tools are specifically for screening, monitoring, and managing common health complications for individuals receiving Medicaid during pregnancy and for up to one year postpartum. The amendment takes effect one year after enactment.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this provision is crucial for expanding access to continuous maternal care, especially in areas with provider shortages. Telehealth can facilitate early detection and management of complications, improving outcomes and reducing the burden on in-person services.
Critics contend
Some may argue that while telehealth is beneficial, it should not replace essential in-person care, and concerns about equitable access for those without reliable internet or devices persist. There could also be administrative challenges for states in implementing new waiver programs.
Tradeoffs
Balances the desire for expanded access and convenience through telehealth against potential issues of digital equity and the need for comprehensive in-person care.
Section 3 (New Section 330Q of the Public Health Service Act)
Grants for Technology-Enabled Collaborative Learning and Capacity Models
This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to evaluate, develop, and expand technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models. These models aim to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly in underserved areas, for medically underserved populations, and for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Funds will be used to train maternal healthcare providers on topics like safety, implicit bias, mental health, substance use disorders, public health emergencies, social determinants of health, and remote patient monitoring.
Section 4
Grants to Promote Equity in Maternal Health Outcomes Through Digital Tools
This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to reduce maternal health disparities by increasing access to digital tools. This includes provider-facing technologies like early warning systems and clinical decision support mechanisms. Priority is given to entities in areas with high rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, or health disparities, and those in health professional shortage or rural/underserved areas. The Secretary is also required to report to Congress on the effectiveness of these grants and provide recommendations on various aspects of technology in maternal care, including privacy, reimbursement, data analysis, and barriers to access.
Section 5
Report on the Use of Technology in Maternity Care
This section mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services enter an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the use of technology and patient monitoring devices in maternity care. The study must specifically examine how innovative technology (including AI) and patient monitoring devices (like pulse oximeters) have affected racial or ethnic biases in maternal health care. It will also identify best practices for reducing bias, for use with minority groups, and for privacy/security safeguards. A report on the study's results is due to Congress within 24 months.
Both grant programs established by the bill (for collaborative learning models and for digital tools to promote equity) explicitly state that "The Secretary may not award more than 1 grant under this section."
Section 3(d)(1) and Section 4(d)(1)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for grant program structure, often indicating a pilot program or a highly centralized approach to initial implementation. It's not necessarily evasive but could be overlooked.
Case for: Proponents might argue that limiting to one grant allows for a focused, high-impact pilot program, enabling the Secretary to concentrate resources and thoroughly evaluate a single model before potentially scaling up. It could also ensure a more rigorous initial implementation and data collection.
Case against: Critics might contend that limiting to a single grant significantly restricts the bill's potential reach and impact, especially given the diverse needs across different regions and populations. A single grant may not adequately address the widespread maternal health challenges and disparities across the nation.
Estimated impact: This limitation means that the authorized appropriations of $6,000,000 per fiscal year for each program will be concentrated on a single recipient for each program, rather than distributed among multiple entities.