3/29/2024: The State of Digital Health and Maternity Care

It's been a minute since our last news roundup. After a quiet beginning, March has been a month of big news stories, including the release of research suggesting that maternal mortality rates may have been miscalculated and an official response from ACOG highlighting the persistent inequities in maternal health and the large percentage of preventable deaths.

The White House released a fact sheet detailing new actions to improve women's health, and several news stories consider the ROI of digital health solutions. Plus, Babyscripts features in a new study out of WellSpan Health, confirming that RPM is effective for improving postpartum assessment in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

3/22, Deloitte: Maternal health inequities persist. Can digital tools be part of the solution?

3/21, mHealth Intelligence: Telehealth enables opioid use disorder treatment during pregnancy

3/19, FemTech World: Research highlights strong demand for data on personalised risk of preeclampsia

3/18, The Washington Post: Medicare pays millions for remote vital sign monitoring. Is it worth it?

3/18, The White House: President Biden Issues Executive Order and Announces New Actions to Advance Women’s Health Research and Innovation

3/15, NPR: How bad is maternal mortality in the U.S.? A new study says it's been overestimated

3/13, ACOG: Despite New Manuscript, Incontrovertible Evidence Proves the Unacceptably High U.S. Maternal Mortality Rate

AJOG: Maternal mortality in the United States: are the high and rising rates due to changes in obstetrical factors, maternal medical conditions, or maternal mortality surveillance?

3/13, Health Payer Intelligence: Continuous Medicaid eligibility during PHE improved postpartum coverage

3/8, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health: 2023 State Maternal Mental Health Legislation Report

3/6, AHA: House passes AHA-supported Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act

3/5, Medriva: Pioneering Study Reveals Tackling Perinatal Anxiety May Prevent Postnatal Depression

Babyscripts Research: 

MCN: Postpartum Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring Using a Mobile App in Women with a Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy

*Previously, this blog post featured an image that appeared to show an adult co-sleeping with a baby lying prone, against AAP's Safe Sleep recommendations. Adults should never share the same bed as a baby, and babies should sleep on their back for the first year of life. We have replaced the image to avoid confusion and the potential spread of unsafe sleep practices.