SENATOR COLLINS' BIPARTISAN BILL TO EXPAND RURAL ACCESS TO MATERNAL HEALTH CARE ADVANCES OUT OF COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Susan Collins issued the following press release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup, the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act advanced by a bipartisan vote of 21 to 1. This bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Tina Smith (D-MN), would help prepare rural hospitals and practitioners to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors as more delivery units, particularly those in rural areas, are being forced into closure. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.

"Nationwide, more than two million women live in a county without a provider offering ob...