PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A group of state lawmakers is pushing to expand Pennsylvania’s medical assistance programs to cover what they say could easily help prevent one of the leading causes of death related to childbirth.
State House Democrat La’Tasha Mayes’ bill is part of a series of bills called the “Momnibus package” aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, especially among Black women who are twice as likely to die during childbirth or in the following year, often from preeclampsia, which stresses the mother’s vital organs longterm and risks blood flow to the placenta, and high blood pressure.
“House Bill 1234 provides a medically necessary and clinically accurate home blood pressure monitor for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid enrollees in our commonwealth,” Mayes said.
Nearly half of all preeclampsia-related costs are paid by Medicaid.
Republican Brad Roae said Medicaid is already a $10 billion budget line item, and current state law requires a blood pressure cuff to be covered every three years.
“As a mother that went through 12 pregnancies and I have eight living children, I just want to say I would not have needed eight different or 12 different blood pressure cuffs. If the doctor felt I needed something, he would prescribe it,” said Republican Leslie Rossi.
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Democrat and licensed physician Arvind Venkat said, “An ounce of prevention absolutely is much more worth than the price that happens when someone comes into the emergency department with this condition.”
The bill moved out of the State House Health Committee 22-4, with eight Republicans joining all Democrats in support. The bill is now in the House Rules Committee.