Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB965

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/13/25
• Refer: 8/13/25

Caption

Providing for Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program.

Summary

SB965 would create a temporary Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Health for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. The program is designed to improve maternal care for pregnant Medicaid recipients enrolled in participating managed care organizations by using remote patient monitoring technology to track conditions such as maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. The bill defines eligible participants, participating managed care organizations, selected vendors, maternity care deserts, and the monitoring technology that may be used. Under the pilot, the department would select one or more managed care organizations and one vendor to provide cellular-connected devices such as blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and scales. The vendor would be required to deliver devices, train participants, monitor data through a clinical team, and create an escalation pathway for concerning readings. Monitoring would continue during pregnancy and for up to three months postpartum, and the program would be limited to no more than 300 participants total. The department must implement the pilot in at least one rural county and at least one county with a maternity care desert.

Impact

The bill would add a new chapter to Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, creating a new Department of Health pilot authority focused on maternal remote patient monitoring. It would require participating managed care organizations to contract directly with a selected vendor, and it would authorize the department to pay up to $600,000 in aggregate fees to cover administration and contracting costs. The pilot would be time-limited, must begin within 180 days of contract execution, and the department’s authority would expire two years after the program becomes operational. The bill also requires a post-program report evaluating outcomes, cost savings, morbidity impacts, and whether the program should be expanded statewide.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed positively as a maternal health improvement initiative, with a focus on better monitoring and support for high-risk pregnancies. The sponsorship by multiple senators suggests interest in addressing maternal morbidity, access gaps, and postpartum care through technology and managed care coordination. No committee transcript or vote history is available, so there is no recorded public debate or formal vote sentiment to assess beyond the bill’s stated policy goals.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be the use of public funds for a limited pilot, the requirement that managed care organizations contract with a selected vendor, and the narrow cap of 300 participants, which may raise questions about scalability and equity. Another possible issue is whether remote monitoring technology can effectively reach patients in rural areas and maternity care deserts, and whether the pilot’s design is sufficient to demonstrate measurable reductions in morbidity or cost. Because no committee discussion or votes are provided, no specific objections or supporters are identified in the record.