Preeclampsia Foundation champions access to biomarker testing for high-risk mothers covered by Medicaid

WASHINGTON – May 29, 2026 –The Preeclampsia Foundation announced today the introduction of H.R. 9061, the Preeclampsia Risk Evaluation and Evidence-based Management through Personalized Testing Act or PREEMPT Act. The bipartisan legislation would ensure state Medicaid programs receive needed information about new innovative testing available to identify pregnant women at risk of or experiencing early signs of preeclampsia at all phases of pregnancy. 

Preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) affect about 5-8 percent of all pregnancies globally with 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths each year. Black women are 3x more likely to die due to pregnancy-related causes compared to White women and in all populations early screening and diagnosis lead to better outcomes. HDPs are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, contributing to up to 15 percent of all maternal deaths, particularly in states with the highest-risk populations and in low-resource settings

Advanced biomarker tests can help clinicians identify patients at elevated risk of preeclampsia and to help make more informed decisions about monitoring, treatment, and care management.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicaid finances more than 41 percent of births in the United States, making state coverage decisions critical to maternal healthcare access.

“The Preeclampsia Foundation is excited by the promise of advanced biomarker tests to transform pregnancy care across all trimesters—helping providers identify preeclampsia earlier, tailor care, and potentially prevent devastating outcomes for mothers and babies. It is especially important that state Medicaid and CHIP programs are aware of and informed about these new tools, given the higher proportion of high‑risk women they serve, so that enrolled pregnant women can benefit from their availability. We will work to advance this important bill this year,” said Eleni Tsigas, CEO, Preeclampsia Foundation.

The Foundation works with Congress, maternal health advocates, clinicians, and state Medicaid leaders to accelerate access to tools and technologies that improve the care of pregnant and postpartum women and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.

“The PREEMPT Act seeks to put the needs of pregnant patients and their families front and center. By calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to guide state Medicaid programs on new biomarker tests for the screening and early detection of preeclampsia, this legislation ensures we can make advanced testing available to some of our most vulnerable pregnant moms at risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,” Tsigas continued. “It’s time to get beyond 1950’s-level screening and management of one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and provide the strongest tools to clinicians and patients to help prevent or manage the risk of a crisis before it becomes one.”

About the Preeclampsia Foundation

The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000 to improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting, and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and accelerating research. We envision a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and their babies. For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org.