Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Health policy plays a significant role in shaping patient care and professional practice environments. Among the most current and pressing health priorities, maternal mortality is the leading health concern in the US, which is most prevalent among minority populations and those of underserved communities. The proposed 2023 Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act is designed to confront such disparities with improved access to maternal healthcare services, broadened training by healthcare providers, and a focus on health equity. It is of primary importance that nurses support policies that would facilitate equity in health care to decrease poor patient outcomes, particularly in maternal health, where disparities are striking.
Purpose Statement
This paper will examine the proposed Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2023, S.1675, and review its legislative intent, proponents and opponents, and current status within Congress. Furthermore, this paper will feature an advocacy statement to support the bill, discuss the social determinants related to maternal health, and address possible opposition to the legislation.
Part 1: Legislation Grid
| Health-related Bill Name | Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2023 |
| Bill Number | S.1675 |
| Description | The Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2023 targets the specified poor outcomes in the population, irrespective of whether a woman is a racial minority or a dweller of a rural area. The bill outlines how the methods should be implemented to expand the provision of maternal healthcare services, enhance the training given to healthcare providers, and decrease the jaw-drugging rates of maternal mortality in the United States. It recognizes the requirement for more studies on maternal mortality, the provision of grants for rural health clinics, as well as the establishment of programs based on racial or ethnic variation in maternal mortality. |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative Intent | This bill primarily tries to reduce the alarming rate of maternal mortality and morbidity that is permanently recorded in the country, surpassing those of most developed nations. This bill will address the factors contributing to disparities in health standards for the minority group. This would include appropriate health care for the underserved populations, enhanced cultural sensitivity in the health care delivery through taking appropriate measures for any provider and assessing data, and subsequent improvement in addressing inequalities in the health of mothers. Therefore, the ultimate long-term goal is to have a system that leads to the provision of quality maternal care to all women irrespective of their or the babies’ socio-economic status or color. |
| Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents:
Healthcare Providers: The law has the strong backing of numerous organizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), whose aim is to guarantee that all women receive safe maternal care. Public Health Advocates: The Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the March of Dimes are among the groups endorsing the bill, and they emphasize how it will address health inequities in maternity care. Policymakers: Several members of Congress who prioritize public health and equity issues support the bill, recognizing the need to reduce maternal mortality rates, particularly among African American and Native American women. |
| Opponents:
Fiscal Conservatives: Opponents argue that the bill will significantly increase government spending. Their concerns are primarily around the costs associated with expanding healthcare services, funding new programs, and creating a more robust data infrastructure for maternal health. Private Insurers: Some private healthcare stakeholders are concerned about the potential regulatory implications and increased pressure to cover more services without proper reimbursement adjustments. |
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| Target Population | The target populations include pregnant women in rural and underserved urban areas, women of color (particularly African American, Native American, and Latina women), and low-income women who have limited access to quality maternal healthcare services. The bill also seeks to improve outcomes for women with chronic health conditions that place them at greater risk during pregnancy. |
| Status of the bill (Is it in hearings or committees?) | As of the most recent update, the bill is currently under review in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. It is in the early stages of the legislative process, having undergone initial discussions in the committee but not yet being scheduled for a vote or full debate on the Senate floor. |
| General Notes/Comments
|
The Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act addresses the severe problem in the country’s health-maternal health disparity, disproportionately affecting racial minorities and low-income women. On the converse, with continuously increasing maternal mortality rates in the country and substantial evidence of many of those preventable deaths, the bill presents a range of comprehensive strategies for addressing the public health crisis. If signed into law, the bill would go a long way toward significant cuts of instances of preventable maternal death in underprivileged communities. |
Part 2: Testimony/Advocacy Statement
I strongly support the provisions of the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2023 (S. 1675). This bill is significant given the current deteriorating maternal health crisis within the country. Besides, the US is ranked among the developed countries that have the highest maternal mortality from pregnancy-related causes, especially among women of color. For instance, women of color, especially Black women, have a pregnancy-related mortality rate up to three times higher than that of their white peers (Milstead & Short, 2019). This bill provides essential structure to address such disparities and improve access to health care, especially at the rural and underserved urban levels, in a culturally competent manner.
The social determinants of health—particularly income, education, and race—play a significant role in the disparities seen in maternal healthcare outcomes, as indicated by Hamal et al. (2020). In addition to those factors, low-income women and women of color will face barriers in their struggle to obtain quality care because resource deficiencies and systemic bias exist within the healthcare system (Taylor et al., 2017). Support for this bill will help ensure that maternal health services become accessible and more equitable.
The only way to counter such opposition as the one that triggers controversy about the cost of implementing the bill is by considering the long-term benefits. As for maternal health investments, these will yield improved results since expensive emergencies and needless deaths will be eliminated (Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), 2020). While the desire to save money and enhance the quality of human resources may be presented as an immediate need, there are several essential shifts toward improved quality in questioning this concern.
Conclusion
The Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2023 represents significant momentum in the maternal health crisis and substantial progress for the most vulnerable. This bill would seek, promote, and ensure equal opportunity for quality healthcare services in order to reduce maternal mortality rates and improve outcomes for women, especially those in underserved communities. Therefore, as healthcare professionals, we must support legislation that prioritizes patient safety, health equity, and long-term healthcare improvement for each woman, considering every socio-economic status.
References
Hamal, M., Dieleman, M., De Brouwere, V., & de Cock Buning, T. (2020). Social determinants of maternal health: A scoping review of factors influencing maternal mortality and maternal health service use in India. Public Health Reviews, 41(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-020-00125-6
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2020). Strategies and actions: improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality and morbidity. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. US Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568218/
Taylor, D., Olshansky, E. F., Woods, N. F., Johnson-Mallard, V., Safriet, B. J., & Hagan, T. (2017). Corrigendum to position statement: Political interference in sexual and reproductive health research and health professional education [Nursing Outlook 65/2 (2017) 242–245]. Nursing Outlook, 65(3), 346–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2017.05.003
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Question 
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.
To Prepare:
- Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.
Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
- Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
- Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
- Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
- Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
- Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
- Explain how the social determinants of income, age, education, or gender affect this legislation.
- Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
- At least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources are used.
Resources:
- Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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