Cedar Rapids Today

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) is actively working towards improving maternal care for rural women in Iowa. Last week, she visited the MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center and the Waverly Health Center to discuss ways to enhance rural maternal health care. During her visit, Hinson had the opportunity to meet with healthcare providers and women who have experienced high-risk pregnancies and stillbirth.

"When I came to Congress, I set out to ensure that those living in rural areas have access to the same quality healthcare as those in urban areas, especially expecting mothers," said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. "Last week, I spent time meeting with healthcare providers who are at the forefront of ensuring every woman has access to quality care, as well as women who are lending their voices to the fight for improved services and resources on the journey to motherhood."

Hinson has been committed to expanding maternal healthcare and making motherhood easier for women. She has introduced several pieces of bipartisan legislation to address these issues. One such legislation is the Midwives for Moms Act, which aims to increase the number of trained midwives in the United States to improve birth outcomes and fill gaps in maternity care.

In addition, Hinson has introduced the No Surprise Bills for New Moms Act, which aims to prevent new parents from receiving surprise medical bills for their newborn babies. This legislation seeks to alleviate the financial burden on families during a crucial time in their lives.

Furthermore, Hinson has been a strong advocate for stillbirth prevention. She introduced the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act, which clarifies the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant of the Social Security Act to include stillbirth prevention activities and research as an allowable use of funds. This legislation aims to address the silent tragedy of stillbirth and ensure that resources are allocated towards preventing it.

During her visit to MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center, Hinson had the opportunity to hear about their work in providing prenatal and postnatal care to patients. She also sat down with the team at Waverly Health Center, a Critical Access Hospital in Bremer County, to discuss the labor and delivery services they offer.

Hinson's commitment to improving maternal care in rural areas is commendable. Her efforts to expand access to healthcare for expecting mothers and prevent stillbirth are crucial in ensuring the well-being of mothers, babies, and families in Iowa.