Bills Aim to Address Disparities in Maternal Mortality Rates Between African-American and White Women
In a collaborative effort to raise awareness, provide education and offer evidence-based solutions for a growing problem in our communities–maternal deaths–the Assembly Health and Senior Citizens, and Women and Children Committees held a joint hearing today where they discussed a 14-bill maternal health package that was introduced Thursday.
“We have to sound the alarm on this issue,” said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Burlington) who chairs the Assembly Health and Senior Citizens Committee and is a physician. “For thousands of women, the surge in maternal deaths has caused childbirth to become a time of concern, and sometimes death, rather than joy and excitement.”
New Jersey ranks 47th among the states in maternal mortality, with a rate of 37.3 deaths per every 100,000 live births. Black women in New Jersey are five times more likely than their white counterparts to die from pregnancy-related complications.
“These statistics represent more than numbers, especially for me,” said Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (D-Camden, Gloucester), chair of the Assembly Women and Children Committee. “My husband and I are expecting our second child so they speak to me personally. They go beyond this legislation, which I fully support.”
The bills seek a collaborative effort between a broad of array of stakeholders–mothers, fathers, health professionals, medical educators and experts, legislators, health agencies, community advocates and others–to help women have a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.
According to an ABC report, “Pregnancy-related deaths have increased nationally from 7.2 per 100,000 live births in 1987 to 18 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014, according to research cited in H.R. 1318.
The bills specifically address the issue of African-American women and why they are at such higher risk of dying from pregnancy complications than white women. During 2011-2014, the CDC found alarming racial disparities in maternal infant mortality deaths nationwide: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women compared to a staggering 40 deaths per 100,000 live births for black women.
“I have given birth to four children–all by Caesarean section,” said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D-Essex) who serves on both committees and spoke at the hearing. “I really wish there had been the type of education being proposed in this bill-package when I delivered my children. If I had been made fully aware of the various maternal health and delivery options, maybe I could have experienced at least one vaginal birth.”
Comprehensive, resource driven and action oriented, the maternal health package covers a wide array of maternal health issues and includes:
A-1662
Pintor Marin/Jimenez/Sumter Provides Medicaid coverage for doula care.
A-4930
Sumter/Swain Establishes training protocols and treatment guidelines for general hospital providing maternity care.
A-4931
Conaway/Quijano Requires DOH to establish maternity care evaluation protocols and a maternity care evaluation database.
A- 4932
Mazzeo/Taliaferro Establishes perinatal episode of care pilot progam in Medicaid.
A-4933
Timberlake/Lampitt “Listening to Mothers Survey Act”; requires DOH to establish survey to evaluate and improve maternity care access and services.
A-4934
Reynolds-Jackson/Jones Provides Medicaid coverage to eligible pregnant women for 365-day period beginning on last day of pregnancy.
A-4935
McKnight/Mukherji Prohibits health benefits coverage for certain non-medically indicated early elective deliveries under Medicaid program, SHBP, and SEHBP.
A-4936
Carter/Chaparro Establishes maternal health care pilot program to evaluate shared decision-making tool developed by DOH and used by hospitals providing maternity services, and by birthing centers.
A-4937
Jasey/Johnson Requires DOH to identify and take appropriate steps to secure federal sources of funding to support maternal mental health.
A-4938
Tucker/Pinkin Requires DOH to establish “My Life, My Plan” program to support women of childbearing age in developing reproductive life plan.
A-4939
Lopez/Wimberly Requires DOH to develop interconception care resources to enhance postpartum care for women.
A-4940
Downey/Holley Directs DOH to develop standardized perinatal health curriculum for community health workers.
A-4941
Vainieri Huttle/Spearman Requires Commissioner of Health to establish maternity care public health campain.
AR-219
Speight/Murphy Encourages DOH to develop set of standards for respectful care at birth and to conduct public outreach initiative.