Congresswoman Stansbury Introduces Maternal Health Care Equity Bill
Statement
Last week, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) introduced new legislation led by Rep. Kathy Manning (N.C.-06) to save lives by expanding access to vital health services during and after pregnancy for people with Medicaid coverage.
Although 60 percent of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. This mortality rate disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and rural communities, in addition to people with low incomes. The Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act incentivizes states to increase their spending on maternal health services under Medicaid by raising the federal reimbursement rate for states that do so.
"Too many women lack access to the high-quality maternal health care they need, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation to save lives by expanding maternal care and equity," said Rep. Stansbury. "Ongoing disparities in maternal health disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, Hispano/Latino, rural, and low-income parents-to-be and we must continue to expand access to care for all of our communities."
The Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act is endorsed by the National Partnership for Women & Families, the National Birth Equity Collaborative, Families USA, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, the Black Women's Health Imperative, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
The Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act was introduced by Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) and is cosponsored by Reps. Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).
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