Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care
"Each year, approximately 4,000,000 women give birth in this country. The U.S. spends significantly more per capita on childbirth than any other industrialized nation. However, despite this investment, America continues to rank far behind almost all other developed countries in birth outcomes for both mothers and babies."
The U.S. lags well behind other countries when it comes to stillbirths: there are 24 countries with lower stillbirth rates than the U.S., and 154 countries are reducing their stillbirth rates more rapidly than the U.S. For a nation that is among the top 10 wealthiest in the world, these are extremely poor ratings.
The goal of the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care is to raise awareness about important and timely maternity care-related issues, and highlight challenges facing America’s maternity care system.
Currently, the Caucus needs more members of Congress to join. Caucus members will promote cost-effective and optimal outcomes for both high- and low-risk pregnancies by highlighting bipartisan policy solutions based on the best available evidence.
We need your help to increase the membership of the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care. Simply, find your local representative using this link: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Next, click on your representitve to obtain his or her contact information using your zip code and 4-digit extension.
Finally, cut and paste the following letter and email your representative .
For more information visit http://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398639
Dear Representative,
Women are 51 percent of our country’s population – the majority of whom are the age where they’re having kids, or they are already caring for children or grandchildren. Each year, approximately 4 million women give birth in this country. The U.S. spends significantly more per capita on childbirth than any other industrialized nation, with cumulative costs estimated to be well over $50 billion. However, despite this investment, America continues to rank far behind almost all other developed countries in birth outcomes for both mothers and babies.
According to a 2013 New York Times report, childbirth in the U. S. is uniquely expensive, and maternity and newborn care constitute the single biggest category of hospital payouts for most commercial insurers and state Medicaid programs. In 2012, maternal-newborn care accounted for 22 percent of hospital discharges and $34.6 billion in hospital payments alone. Additionally, six of the ten most common hospital procedures and the most common operating room procedure – cesarean delivery – are childbirth related. With Medicaid as the primary payer for 45 percent of childbearing women and 47 percent of newborns, the federal government has a major responsibility for ensuring the quality and value of maternal-newborn care.
The bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus will explore the biggest challenges and the most promising solutions to advance safe and effective maternity care for mothers and babies. We’ll also promote cost-effective and optimal outcomes for both high- and low-risk pregnancies by highlighting bipartisan policy solutions based on the best available evidence.
Working to improve health outcomes and research for moms and babies is just one important way we can help support the millions of women who do so much to support all the people in their lives. We encourage you to join the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care. To join or for more information, please contact Debbie Jessup in Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s office atDebbie.Jessup@mail.house.gov or Jessica Wixson in Congresswoman Herrera Beutler’s office atJessica.Wixson@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely, (Your Name)
Women are 51 percent of our country’s population – the majority of whom are the age where they’re having kids, or they are already caring for children or grandchildren. Each year, approximately 4 million women give birth in this country. The U.S. spends significantly more per capita on childbirth than any other industrialized nation, with cumulative costs estimated to be well over $50 billion. However, despite this investment, America continues to rank far behind almost all other developed countries in birth outcomes for both mothers and babies.
According to a 2013 New York Times report, childbirth in the U. S. is uniquely expensive, and maternity and newborn care constitute the single biggest category of hospital payouts for most commercial insurers and state Medicaid programs. In 2012, maternal-newborn care accounted for 22 percent of hospital discharges and $34.6 billion in hospital payments alone. Additionally, six of the ten most common hospital procedures and the most common operating room procedure – cesarean delivery – are childbirth related. With Medicaid as the primary payer for 45 percent of childbearing women and 47 percent of newborns, the federal government has a major responsibility for ensuring the quality and value of maternal-newborn care.
The bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus will explore the biggest challenges and the most promising solutions to advance safe and effective maternity care for mothers and babies. We’ll also promote cost-effective and optimal outcomes for both high- and low-risk pregnancies by highlighting bipartisan policy solutions based on the best available evidence.
Working to improve health outcomes and research for moms and babies is just one important way we can help support the millions of women who do so much to support all the people in their lives. We encourage you to join the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care. To join or for more information, please contact Debbie Jessup in Congresswoman Roybal-Allard’s office atDebbie.Jessup@mail.house.gov or Jessica Wixson in Congresswoman Herrera Beutler’s office atJessica.Wixson@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely, (Your Name)
