Establishes a maternal health monitoring pilot program

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Roxanne J. Persaud says this is needed

Maternal morbidity and mortality remain significant challenges in New York State, particularly among individuals enrolled in Medicaid. Preg- nancy-related hypertension and diabetes substantially increase the risk of serious complications and emergency interventions and are key contributors to adverse maternal outcomes. At the same time, access to consistent prenatal and postpartum care has declined in many regions due to hospital closures, reduced maternity services, and provider shortages. These access gaps make early identifi- cation and management of high-risk conditions more difficult. Remote patient monitoring offers an evidence-based tool to support earlier detection and timely clinical intervention by enabling contin- uous monitoring outside of traditional clinical settings. This legis- lation establishes a targeted pilot program within the Medicaid managed care framework to evaluate the effectiveness of remote patient monitor- ing in supporting maternal health and informing future policy decisions. EQUITY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT Significant disparities in maternal health outcomes persist in New York State, with Black and Brown women experiencing disproportionately higher rates of pregnancy-related complications, including hypertension, diabetes, and maternal mortality. These disparities persist across income and education levels and reflect long-standing inequities within the health care system, while economic disadvantage further compounds risk by limiting access to consistent, high-quality care. Black and Brown women are more likely to experience delays in diagnosis and preventable complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period regardless of socioeconomic status. By prioritizing early identification and ongoing monitoring of high-risk conditions, this pilot program seeks to improve maternal health outcomes for populations that have been disproportionately impacted by gaps in care.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.