Lawmakers are calling for greater protections for pregnant people of color in hopes of passing legislation before the session ends.
The Black Maternal Health Caucus has led legislative negotiations. The caucus was founded in 2019 to combat the dramatic racial divide that exists among pregnant blacks. Despite proposing a 12-package law to protect pregnant women, most of the caucus’ laws have not passed.
The 2021 Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act combats recognition of social determinants of health, calls for funding community-based organizations, perinatal workforce diversity, and other important provisions. rice field. But so far, President Joe Biden has signed into law only part of the package: the Protection of Mothers Who Served Act.
That particular act commissioned the first-ever comprehensive study of America’s maternal health crisis among female veterans, while supporting maternal care programs at VA facilities.
Still, Momnibus’ lead sponsor and Black Maternal Health Caucus founder and co-chairman, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Illinois), says she’s pleased with the progress so far.
“There’s incredible momentum,” Underwood told The Hill. “His remaining 80% of Momnibus is in Build Back Better and we have been working with our colleagues in the Senate to find the means by which Momnibus is enacted. I am optimistic.”
The Monnibus provisions draw from Underwood’s own experience as a nurse and a stakeholder summit in early 2019 where experts, health care providers, and community leaders helped identify the most pressing issues of the maternal health crisis. was given. The Maternal Vaccination Act, which funds programs to increase maternal vaccination rates, was recently passed with bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.
But with the midterm elections just days away, legislative talks have been put on hold, but the caucuses, along with the bill-leading Senator, Senator Cory Booker, DN.J. package to another means. hoping to pass.
Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa Republican) recently introduced his own bill, the Healthy Mothers and Babies Act.
Key provisions of the Act include coordination and delivery of “whole person” care; modernization of telemedicine maternal health care to support women of color and women living in rural America; and an improved understanding of the social determinants of postpartum women’s health.
As Chair of the Finance Committee, Grassley joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) to gather feedback from committee members and stakeholders on the factors that are worsening maternal health in the United States. activity.
“We must do a better job of supporting expectant mothers and their babies,” Grassley said in a statement to The Hill. Enabling quality and coordinated care for the most vulnerable mothers Through 21st century technology and community-based initiatives, maternal mortality and risk reductions can be achieved regardless of the mother’s postal code or economic background. As a strong supporter of maternal and infant home visit programs and stillbirth prevention efforts, I will continue to work with my colleagues to support families of expectant mothers.”
It’s unclear if this law will accompany Momnibus in any way, but Grassley’s office has senators planning to work bipartisanly and bicameral with their colleagues to pass the Healthy Mothers and Babies Act. I added that there is.
But Underwood added that since its launch in 2019, the Black Maternal Health Caucus is also bipartisan.
All efforts to advance the Momnibus Act, the Mom’s Matter Act and the Tech to Save Moms Act are bipartisan.
“I think the politics around all of this really shows that there is a bipartisan consensus … ending the maternal health crisis in our country is a priority,” Underwood said.
“I think this is very personal for many of our members, and people often share stories of their communities and states and why they are so passionate about this work.” “In 2022, we should be able to keep mothers alive, so it resonates with a wide audience and voters. And it has to be consistent across the United States.” We should not have these disparities based on race or ethnicity, nor should we have these disparities based on geographic location, urban, suburban, or rural.”
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the United States has the highest rate of death from pregnancy-related complications during pregnancy or within the first 12 months after pregnancy ends in the developed world.
These racial disparities persist in Native American communities, where Native American mothers are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have higher maternal mortality during hospitalization for labor.
But 84% of these deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Maternal Mortality Review Board. September report.
Mental health status was the leading underlying cause of maternal deaths in 2017-2019. White and Hispanic women were most likely to die from suicide or drug overdose.
Heart disease was the leading cause of death for black women. Black women are more likely than white women to suffer from pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and their mortality rate is five times higher than for white women. Census Bureau.
“Passing Momnibus and making these important investments ($3 billion in our maternal health crisis) will improve the quality of care for everyone,” said Underwood. “This will help us all, and it will also end the seriousness that has brutally taken the lives of black mothers in America for decades.”
Mr Underwood said the caucuses would work until the last day of the session and pass Momnibus with 60 bipartisan votes.
