Heinrich, Wicker, Stansbury, Ciscomani Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Combat the Syphilis Epidemic, Protect Mothers and Infants

WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roger Wicker (R- Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) 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, theChildren's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Indian Health Service (IHS).
In 2023, the New Mexico Department of Health reported a20 percent increasein cases of congenital syphilis in New Mexico (91 cases). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranks New Mexico as the state with thehighest rateof congenital syphilis and the second highest rate of primary or secondary syphilis. On October 17, 2024, New Mexico Department of Health issued a renewedPublic Health Orderto increase awareness of syphilis and increase screening of both adults ages 18-50 and pregnant women to decrease rates of syphilis in all regions of New Mexico.
Nearlyeradicatedin the U.S. during the 1990s, syphilis is treatable as it continues to be highly sensitive to penicillin. However, rates of infection are on the rise over recent years as the CDC reports infections are at their highest levels since the 1950s. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium that produces sores on the infected person. When left untreated, the infection can invade multiple systems in the body and cause life-threatening damage to organs. For pregnant women,congenital syphilisoccurs when a mother passes the infection to her fetus.
“We must do more to help stop the increase of babies born in New Mexico with congenital syphilis. My Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act will help us improve screening and treatment to protect pregnant mothers and babies in New Mexico from this fully treatable condition,”said Heinrich.
“The syphilis epidemic has impacted many Mississippians, and I am working to protect mothers and children from this disease. The Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act will expand access to life-saving screening and treatment for congenital syphilis,”said Wicker.
"We must do everything we can to protect mothers and their infants,"said Stansbury."Congenital Syphilis is treatable, and it is critical HHS provides treatment, support, and education. I am proud to sign on to the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act so women and babies in New Mexico get the care and treatment they deserve."
"As rates of congenital syphilis continue to rise in Arizona's newborns, we must ensure that our mothers, families, and healthcare professionals have access to information, treatment, and solutions they need to address this highly preventable disease,"said Ciscomani."Information saves lives and I am proud to co-lead the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act to promote and expand access to screenings and treatment for syphilis to ensure that mothers, pregnant women, and babies are as healthy as possible."
Specifically, the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act requires the HHS to issue guidance to state Medicaid agencies, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Indian Health Service (IHS) 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 Navajo Birthworker Collective, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), March of Dimes, the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
"The Navajo Birthworker Collective supports the Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act because our communities deserve access to timely screening and treatment to protect the lives and health of our mothers and babies,"said Amanda Singer, Doula, CLC, Executive Director of the Navajo Birthworker Collective.
"Congenital syphilis is a national public health crisis—and it's a crisis we can prevent. This bill ensures that every state has the tools and guidance needed to detect and treat syphilis in pregnancy. No woman or baby should suffer or die from a disease we have the power to stop,”said the National Coalition of STD Directors.
The text of the bill ishere.
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