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HB 1538

Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamila Woods

Maryland establishes a Medical Assistance maternal health monitoring pilot to track pregnant and postpartum women for early intervention and improved outcomes.

Hearing 3/13 at 3:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 1538

Legislative bill overview

HB 1538 establishes a pilot program within Maryland's Medical Assistance Program to implement maternal health monitoring for pregnant individuals and postpartum women. The bill aims to improve maternal health outcomes through enhanced surveillance and early intervention during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Why is this important

Maternal mortality and morbidity remain significant public health concerns, particularly among vulnerable populations who rely on Medicaid. A monitoring pilot program could identify high-risk pregnancies earlier, reduce complications, and potentially save lives, while also generating data on effective intervention models for future scaling.

Potential points of contention

  • Program cost and funding source: Establishing a new monitoring infrastructure requires resources; unclear whether existing budgets will absorb costs or new appropriations are needed
  • Data privacy and surveillance concerns: Intensive maternal monitoring raises questions about data collection methods, storage, privacy protections, and potential for coercive practices
  • Implementation scope and equity: Pilot design details matter—if limited geographically or demographically, it may not represent broader populations most affected by maternal health disparities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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