CMS Seeking Comments on Rural Maternal and Infant Health Care

CMS is seeking public comments regarding rural maternal and infant health care. CMS is releasing a request for information to learn about opportunities to improve access, quality, and outcomes for women in rural communities before, during and after pregnancy. CMS also is gathering information on the readiness of rural providers to respond to obstetric emergencies in rural areas.

Specifically, CMS is requesting information in response to the following questions:

1. What barriers exist in rural communities trying to improve access, quality of care, and outcomes in prenatal, obstetrical, and postpartum care?
2. What opportunities are there to improve the above areas?
3. What initiatives, including community-based efforts, have shown a positive impact on addressing barriers or maximizing opportunities?
4. How can CMS/HHS support these efforts?

CMS will use this feedback to inform future work toward development and refinement of programs and policies that ensure rural families have access to high-quality health care that results in improved health outcomes.

Read more about the Request for Information

Submit Comments by April 12 at 11:59 PM ET

If you have thoughts to share in response to this RFI, please send them to Kara Gainer (karagainer@apta.org) no later than March 20, 2020.