Rep. Bacon Leads Bipartisan Bill to Help Postpartum Women

WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02), alongside Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At Large), Terri Sewell (D-AL-070), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), reintroduced H.R.2480, the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act. This legislation seeks to improve maternal postpartum health by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on the coverage of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (PHPT) for postpartum mothers under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Quality postpartum care for mothers is vital for their long-term health and well-being, but many women suffer from pelvic floor disfunction and diastasis recti abdominis, conditions that can be severely painful. This is treatable with Pelvic Health Physical Therapy; however, many women are unaware of the therapy available to them. When working with a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, women receive a treatment plan to improve muscle control and mobility, aid in tissue repair and recovery from cesarean sections. 

“As a husband, father, and grandfather, I recognize the importance of supporting postpartum women,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our care for women should extend to postpartum recovery, to ensure that they are living without pain or discomfort, especially when the therapy available is highly effective.”

H.R. 2480 would be a step towards making quality postpartum care available to all women. With approximately 3 million births in the United States every year, there are 3 million women who could benefit from Pelvic Health Physical Therapy in their recovery.

“I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Bacon in introducing H.R. 2480, the Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act. This legislation will expand healthcare services for women in their postpartum phase by enhancing awareness campaigns, treatment, and care options in the post-partum period. Specifically, the bill promotes pelvic health and physical therapy for postpartum individuals, a major step forward to ease the recovery period and prevent other postpartum-related complications for women across our country,” said Rep. González-Colón.

The bill is supported by health care professionals and physical therapists, including: 

American Physical Therapy Association, The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Origin

The text of the legislation can be found here.

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