Bill Overview
Title: Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2022
Description: This bill addresses data collection, public education, workplace safety, and other matters related to maternal health during public health emergencies. Specifically, the bill supports (1) the collection of maternal data (including racial, ethnic, and other demographic data) through surveillance systems of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and (2) research activities of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Additionally, the CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must make publicly available and periodically update pregnancy and postpartum data that is collected across COVID-19 surveillance systems. The data must be disaggregated by factors such as race, ethnicity, insurance status, and location. The bill also requires the CDC to educate pregnant people, their employers, and their health care providers about evidenced-based health information concerning COVID-19 and pregnancy; the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a task force to develop recommendations on the provision of maternity care during the COVID-19 (and future) public health emergencies with a particular focus on communities of color and rural populations; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an emergency temporary standard to protect employees who are at risk from occupational exposure to COVID-19 that considers the risks and needs of pregnant and postpartum employees; and the Government Accountability Office to report on maternal health and public health preparedness, including prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care during the COVID-19 emergency.
Sponsors: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Target Audience
Population: pregnant and postpartum people worldwide
Estimated Size: 4000000
- The bill's focus on maternal health means it directly impacts pregnant and postpartum individuals.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergencies, this bill affects individuals who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
- The bill addresses communities of color and rural communities, indicating a significant focus on these subpopulations.
- The global estimate of pregnancies is based on the fact that there are over 140 million births worldwide each year.
- The bill's stress on data disaggregation by race and ethnicity impacts a wide range of racial and ethnic groups globally.
Reasoning
- The primary impact of the policy is on pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly those in communities of color and rural areas.
- The policy aims to improve data collection and public education regarding maternal health during public health emergencies, enhancing awareness and understanding.
- There is an emphasis on workplace safety and ensuring health information is shared effectively with the target demographic.
- Given the budgetary constraints, the policy must be designed to provide measurable benefits to a significant portion of the target population.
- Overall, wellbeing improvements are likely due to better safety standards and more informed health decisions, but the extent may vary based on individual circumstances.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a Black woman, I'm glad to see they are focusing on communities of color though I hope this actually results in real change rather than just discussions.
- Having more data available and workplace safety measures makes me feel a bit more secure going forward.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Elementary School Teacher (Rural Michigan)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on rural areas is a relief because our healthcare infrastructure often gets overlooked.
- If the policy can deliver relevant information and support, it'll be a help to our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retail Worker (Brooklyn, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard enough getting by, so any focus on making my workplace safer and educating me about health is appreciated.
- Without the right data, it feels like people like me just fall through the cracks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems crucial, especially with something like COVID-19 where misinformation is rampant.
- The data collection and disaggregation are likely to provide insights that can protect the most vulnerable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Pharmacist (Houston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm happy there's an emphasis on racial data because healthcare equity is a real issue.
- Implementing protective measures where I work will definitely reduce my stress levels and make me feel safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Stay-at-home Mom (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love the focus on education and ensuring the policy cover all demographics.
- Even though I'm not in the target demographic right now, I think it's important for society as a whole to support moms-to-be.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Freelance Designer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm particularly interested in how inclusive the data collection will be for all gender identities.
- Protection at work and robust data would really help in feeling more secure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Actress (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency in health information is so important, especially when dealing with postpartum challenges.
- I hope cultural sensitivities are respected in data collection and public messaging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Social Worker (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm pleased that the policy considers low-income and vulnerable populations by enhancing data collection and distribution.
- Having support and evidence-based data will assist me in advocating for the families I support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopefully, more structured approaches to maternal health emerge from this policy.
- Workplace safety standards focusing on COVID-19 risks are definitely necessary in a post-pandemic world.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Year 2: $140000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $160000000)
Year 3: $130000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $150000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 100: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Key Considerations
- The extent and effectiveness of public education initiatives are critical to achieving desired health and cost outcomes.
- The compliance and enforcement of workplace safety standards by OSHA will be essential to maximizing health benefits for new mothers.
- Regional disparities in maternal healthcare may affect the uniformity of this policy's impact across the U.S.