POWER TO DECIDE APPLAUDS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH MOMNIBUS
(Washington, D.C.) — Power to Decide applauds today’s introduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. The bill was introduced by Congresswomen Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. The bill includes critical policies that will improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities in mortality rates for Black and brown people.
In response, Power to Decide CEO, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, issued the following statement:
“The importance and significance of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act’s efforts to address racism in our health care system is overdue. Presently, not all pregnant people have access to safe, high-quality culturally appropriate maternal and reproductive health care services. The impact that such lack of access has on Black pregnant women is clear in the devastating disparity in mortality rates and health outcomes.
“Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death compared to white women. In addition, Black women experience 2.3 times the infant mortality rate compared to their white counterparts.
“The patients in my practice are the very people this bill aims to protect; people who often try in vain to navigate systemic public health challenges in order to access quality medical care. Ensuring all people can have a healthy pregnancy and delivery can be addressed with preventive measures that appreciate and include the importance of patient-centered care. The “Momnibus” includes many of the proactive measures we need in order to help all pregnant mothers have high-quality birthing and delivery experiences safely and without fear.”
Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
