BILL NUMBER: S9084
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
maternal health monitoring pilot program
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to establish a maternal health monitoring
pilot program for Medicaid recipients enrolled in participating managed
care organizations that utilize remote patient monitoring technology to
support the management of pregnancy-related hypertension and diabetes.
 
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Amends the public health law to establish a maternal health
monitoring pilot program administered by the Department of Health. The
pilot program will utilize remote patient monitoring technology to moni-
tor Medicaid recipients enrolled in participating managed care organiza-
tions for hypertension and diabetes during pregnancy and for up to three
months postpartum, with participation prioritized in areas with limited
access to maternity care.
Section 2. Sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
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.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Any fiscal implications associated with the pilot program will be evalu-
ated through the program's reporting requirements.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.