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: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Pregnant and postpartum individuals during public health emergencies
Estimated Size: 3600000
- The bill is specifically aimed at addressing and improving maternal health during public health emergencies, particularly pandemics like COVID-19.
- It involves collecting and disseminating data about pregnant and postpartum individuals, focusing on racial, ethnic, and geographical inclusivity.
- The legislation includes educational provisions to inform pregnant people, their employers, and healthcare providers about COVID-19 and pregnancy-related risks.
- The focus on minority communities and rural populations indicates an intention to address existing disparities in maternal healthcare.
- Given that this is a US legislation, it primarily targets the US population but its impacts on data collection and research can have broader international implications.
Reasoning
- The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2022 primarily targets pregnant and postpartum individuals during public health emergencies like COVID-19, with a particular focus on racial, ethnic, and geographical inclusivity, especially considering minority and rural populations.
- The policy includes data collection initiatives which indicate an overarching goal to improve long-term maternal health outcomes by analyzing disaggregated data on populations often overlooked.
- Educational components aim at better informing pregnant individuals and their employers, which is expected to lead to improved decision-making for maternal health management during emergencies.
- With a limited budget, the policy must strategically allocate resources to target areas and populations most in need of intervention.
- Considering the act's broad scope, it might have varied impacts on different individuals: those directly affected by public health emergencies, health care providers, and employers of pregnant individuals.
Simulated Interviews
Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy could be helpful as it would make the workplace safer for people like me who are pregnant and work in high-risk environments.
- Having specific data on how COVID-19 affects pregnancy, especially in minority communities, would help healthcare providers make better decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy acknowledges the struggles that people in communities of color face when accessing healthcare during pandemics.
- Improved data should lead to more equitable healthcare resources and attention where it's needed most.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Public Health Researcher (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy can stimulate further research opportunities by making more disaggregated data available, crucial for understanding disparities in maternal health.
- However, the budgeting seems restrictive given the broad scope of intended outcomes.
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 | 9 | 8 |
Farm Owner (Rural Kansas)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to targeted health information during the pandemic is a serious issue for rural populations like mine.
- I hope this policy leads to better information and care options for those of us in less connected areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about exposure at work, but having new health standards could help.
- The data collection seems like it could improve outcomes for people like me in the long run.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
CEO of Startup (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Addressing workplace safety standards is vital, and I see that this policy could be beneficial for pregnant employees.
- Implementing parts of this policy might be challenging for smaller businesses.”
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Obstetrician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on specific data collection is excellent, as it allows us to better understand the pandemic's impacts on different pregnant populations.
- I hope this leads to more personalized patient care based on real-world data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Waitress (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In my situation, education about COVID-19 risks and pregnancy is essential to make sure I'm protecting my baby.
- Protection at the workplace would be a major improvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Data Scientist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation represents a solid step towards integrating data analytics into maternal health decisions.
- The budget constraints might limit the scope of what can be achieved with this policy.
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 | 8 | 8 |
Stay-at-Home Mom (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy addresses some of the disparities my community faces.
- Having better information on how COVID-19 affects pregnancy is essential but requires community dissemination to be effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 3: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 100: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy focuses on maternal health during pandemics, which might have long-term benefits beyond the immediate costs.
- The racial, ethnic, and demographic data collection is critical in addressing health disparities.
- Short-term costs are significant due to new system implementations and public health initiatives.