Maternal morbidity and mortality rates remain remarkably high in the United States compared to other developed countries. The US ranks last in maternal mortality rates compared to other high-income countries in the world.  Black women are 3 to 4 times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women.  

This is a multifactorial crisis, and it will take a multifactorial solution to rectify it. To that end, the bipartisan members of the US House of Representatives Black Maternal Health Caucus have introduced 12 bills that each address a different factor of the crisis. The Caucus has also introduced a single bill, H.R. 3305—the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, that collects the 12 together into a single bill. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate as S. 1606. The Momnibus would contribute to ending preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the US and reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes. 

Specifically, the legislation would: 

• Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition.
• Extending WIC eligibility for new moms.
• Sustained funding for community-based organizations to advance maternal health equity.
• Respectful maternity care training for all employees in maternity care settings.
• Study on reducing and preventing bias, racism, and discrimination in maternity care settings.
• Respectful maternity care compliance program.
• Comprehensively study the unique maternal health risks facing pregnant and postpartum veterans and support VA maternity care coordination programs.
• Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives culturally congruent maternity care and support.
• Improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it.
• Support moms with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
• Improve maternal health care and support for incarcerated moms.
• Invest in digital tools like telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas.
• Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and non-clinical perinatal support.
• Invest in federal programs to address the unique risks for and effects of COVID-19 during and after pregnancy and to advance respectful maternity care in future public health emergencies.
• Invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure to climate change-related risks for moms and babies.
• Promote maternal vaccinations to protect the health and safety of moms and babies.

Would you call your U.S. representative and senators to urge them to cosponsor the Black Maternal Health Momnibus?