H.R. 7830: Women Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety Act

This bill, known as the Women Expansion of Learning and Labor Safety Act (WELLS Act), proposes several amendments to existing laws focused on improving maternal health care for pregnant individuals, particularly in hospital settings. Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Discharge Plans for Pregnant Individuals

The bill mandates that hospitals participating in Medicare must create specific discharge plans for pregnant individuals. This requirement begins on January 1, 2027. The discharge plan must be developed for any pregnant person admitted to the hospital who:

• Is identified as pregnant.
• Shows signs or symptoms consistent with labor.
• Is expected to be discharged before delivery.

Hospitals must:

• Include the discharge plan in the patient's medical record.
• Discuss the plan with the patient or their representative before discharge.

The discharge plan must contain:

• A clinical justification for the discharge.
• An assessment of travel distance and time from the patient's home to the hospital.
• Verification of reliable transportation.
• Identification of a backup facility for labor and delivery services.
• Confirmation that a qualified medical professional approved the plan.
• Assurance that the information was provided in the patient’s primary language and understood by the patient or their representative.

Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Training Grant

The bill also amends existing training grants for rural maternal and obstetric care. Starting from the fiscal year 2027, grant recipients must use funds to provide:

• Racial bias training.
• Meet minimum performance milestones, including training percentage of staff.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will evaluate the progress of these grants annually and report details to Congress, which will include information on the training format, geographical coverage, and linked patient outcomes.

Implementation Science Initiative for Maternal Health

The bill establishes a multi-center implementation science initiative to evaluate various training models for healthcare professionals. This evaluation will assess the impacts on provider behavior, patient outcomes, and maternal health disparities.

Maternal Health Dashboard

The Secretary of HHS is tasked with creating and maintaining a publicly available maternal health dashboard. This dashboard will compile and present data related to various maternal health metrics, including:

• Maternal mortality and severe morbidity rates.
• Discharge statistics for pregnant individuals.
• Federal investments in maternal health research.

General Provisions

The bill emphasizes the importance of planning for the health and safety of pregnant individuals within the healthcare system. Its overall goal is to ensure better communication and preparation during and after pregnancy as patients navigate hospital care.

Relevant Companies

None found.