Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act

The "Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act" aims to significantly improve obstetric emergency care , especially in rural health care facilities without dedicated obstetric units. It establishes an evidence-based program to train practitioners in these settings on how to prepare for, identify, stabilize, and safely transfer patients experiencing various obstetric emergencies, such as hemorrhage, severe hypertension, and perinatal mental health conditions. This training will be developed in consultation with national medical societies and facilitated through regional partnerships. The bill also authorizes grant funding for eligible rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, and rural emergency hospitals. These grants will support the integration of obstetric readiness training, build workforce capacity, and enable the purchase of necessary equipment to manage obstetric emergencies. Funds can also be used for developing patient transfer protocols, hiring personnel, and establishing training opportunities like clinical rotations and interdisciplinary simulation training. Additionally, the legislation creates a pilot program for teleconsultation , awarding grants to States, political subdivisions, and Indian Tribes. This program aims to develop or improve statewide or regional maternal health care telehealth access networks, providing urgent consultative support to rural non-obstetric settings through rapid clinical teleconsultations and referral assistance. Finally, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive study on obstetric units in rural areas . This study will map maternity ward closures and regional patterns of patient transport, examining models for regional partnerships in obstetric care, with a report due within three years.