What You Should Know:
– The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to initiate an inquiry aimed at expanding and improving the Mapping Broadband Health in America platform to enhance the use of digital health tools for better maternal care.
– The United States faces rising maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity rates, and research indicates that many of these issues are preventable. Access to broadband internet and its connection to healthcare services can help address this crisis, especially for underserved populations like women of color, those in rural areas, and those from lower-income households.
– The FCC seeks comments on various aspects, including adding more maternal health data, addressing data limitations while protecting privacy, and promoting maternal health equity. Additionally, the inquiry will examine the use of broadband-enabled health technologies in maternal care and identify barriers preventing their access and utilization. The goal is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates and improve maternal health outcomes. This action was taken by the FCC on October 19, 2023.
