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An industry trade group is proposing that Congress authorize Medicaid coverage for maternal and neonatal care via telemedicine "birthing networks." Medicaid recipients with high-risk pregnancies would be eligible for the program.

The proposal, by the Washington, D.C.-based American Telemedicine Association, encourages adoption of state networks through a "shared savings approach" that rewards participating health-care providers. To encourage state participation, it also recommends that the federal government cover 90 percent of network development costs in the first two years. The birthing network would be modeled after the nearly 10-year-old University of Arkansas ANGELS (Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System) Program, the association says in a press release.

The networks "could leverage telemedicine technologies to more effectively treat major conditions associated with high-risk pregnancies, including pre-term labor, gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus," the ATA says. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would monitor network performance.

The association cites a study it funded, saying birthing networks could save taxpayers up to $186 million over 10 years. The study, by Avalere Health of Washington, D.C., finds that savings would come from less use of hospital and physician services.