Advocacy Correspondence: PA House Health Committee, Support for House Bill 2097

 

April 15, 2024 
 

 

Dear Chairman Frankel, Chairwoman Rapp, and Members of the House Health Committee: 

On behalf of over 230 member hospitals and health systems, The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) supports House Bill 2097, sponsored by Representative La’Tasha Mayes. This legislation provides Medicaid coverage for blood pressure monitors for home use on a per-pregnancy basis. 

Pennsylvania hospitals participate in approximately 97 percent of the more than 130,000 births statewide each year and are deeply invested in healthy pregnancy and childbirth. A noteworthy example of this work is that 95 percent of Pennsylvania’s 79 birthing hospitals work together to develop and share quality improvement opportunities on an ongoing basis through Pennsylvania’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative. 

Pregnancy is a dynamic experience during which health can change rapidly and timely intervention is critical. Additionally, Medicaid already covers one blood pressure monitor every five years, but a patient’s circumstances can vary significantly from one pregnancy to another. Monitors wear out over time, leading to inaccurate reads. Body fluctuations from one pregnancy to another may require larger or smaller cuff sizes, for example. Expanding coverage of blood pressure monitors to a per-pregnancy basis can help prevent complications and improve health outcomes. 

Home monitoring is most effective when an individual also has an ongoing clinical relationship. We support this legislation as a good step. We hope to continue to work with you to find ways to increase access to high-quality maternal health care in Pennsylvania, including sustainable Medicaid reimbursements for providers delivering this critical care.   

On behalf of the hospital community, we respectfully ask that you please vote yes on House Bill 2097. If you have further questions, please contact me at SWatkins@HAPonline.org or (717) 442-7176. 

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Watkins 
Senior Vice President, Advocacy & Policy 
 

c: The Honorable La’Tasha Mayes 

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Topics: Access to Care, Medicaid, Population Health, State Advocacy

Revision Date: 4/15/2024

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