Heinrich Leads Legislation to Combat the Syphilis Epidemic, Protect Mothers and Infants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roger Wicker (R- Miss.) introduced the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act, legislation to protect pregnant mothers and infants by requiring the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to issue guidance to states on best practices for screening and treatment of congenital syphilis under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R- Ind.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). In the House, the legislation is led by U.S. Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.).

"As New Mexico tackles the syphilis epidemic, I remain committed to protecting pregnant mothers and babies by ensuring they have access to essential screening and treatment for congenital syphilis. That is what my Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act will do," said Heinrich. "I will keep fighting to expand access to the high-quality health care New Mexicans need in their home communities."

"Arizona has seen a concerning increase in cases over the past few years. We know this disease is preventable, and we owe it to our communities to make that a reality," said Kelly. "Information saves lives and this bipartisan legislation is a critical step in making sure mothers and babies receive the screenings and treatments they need to stay healthy."

"With rapidly rising rates of congenital syphilis in Arizona's newborns, we need to ensure our mothers, families, and health care professionals have thorough access to proper information and solutions when it comes to tackling and preventing this disease," said Ciscomani. "I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to promote and improve screenings and treatments for syphilis, ensuring pregnant women, mothers, and babies stay as healthy as possible."

Untreated, syphilis can seriously damage the heart and brain and can cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis among newborns. Screening during the third trimester and at delivery can lead to earlier detection of congenital syphilis and prevent adverse health outcomes for mothers and newborn infants.

Specifically, the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act requires the HHS to issue guidance to state Medicaid agencies on actions states may take to improve access to syphilis screening for pregnant mothers and infants, best practices for physicians treating cases of congenital syphilis, strategies for increasing access to telehealth services, and increasing access to treatment in the third trimester and at delivery.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Coalition of STD Directors, March of Dimes, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, and Affirm.

"We applaud Senator Heinrich for working to halt the tragic rise in congenital syphilis cases that is devastating our states and tribal communities. This bill directly addresses the missed opportunities to prevent the most dire syphilis consequences in the communities that are most affected, and is a critical step toward ending the national syphilis epidemic. Senator Heinrich's bill will make sure that fewer patients miss out on the simple screening and treatment it takes to protect pregnant patients and their infants," said David C. Harvey, Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

The text of the bill is here.

Recently, Heinrich secured Committee support of $750,000 in the Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bills for the New Mexico Department of Health to hire disease intervention specialists to decrease the rates of syphilis in New Mexico. Heinrich also included report language in the Committee-approved 2025 Appropriations Bills to address the concerning rise of syphilis and congenital syphilis in newborns. This will ensure federal agencies prioritize efforts to combat infections and protect the health of mothers and infants.

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