Joco Today

On May 16,2023, Representative Sharice Davids recognized Mother's Day by reintroducing legislation to address America's worsening maternal mortality crisis and reaffirming her support for increased research and attention on maternal health care. Davids' Data to Save Moms Act seeks to understand the root causes of this emergency by improving data collection on maternal mortality and morbidity.

The United States is the only industrialized country with an increasing maternal mortality rate, and the crisis is most severe for people of color. Black mothers are dying at 3 to 4 times the rate of their white counterparts, and Native Americans are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. According to NurtureKC, this trend holds true for Kansas. Wyandotte County in particular has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the state at 83.5 deaths per 10,000 live births.

"The U.S. is falling desperately short on the issue of maternal health, and frankly, it is shameful—but we can't fix a problem we don't fully understand," said Davids. "By listening to the physicians and mothers who are on the front lines of this crisis and improving our existing data collection methods, we can take informed action and ultimately save lives. I appreciate Representatives Underwood and Adams for continuing to fight for compassionate policy to save moms."

"While we understand the stark disparities in maternal mortality that highlight Black mothers are dying at 3 to 4 times their white counterparts despite income, education, and early prenatal care, we also understand the data fails to highlight the strengths in Black communities and blames Black women for their poor outcomes," said Sharla Smith, Director of Birth Equity, Kansas Birth Equity Network. "We must shift the Blame for poor health outcomes from Black women to system level accountability and be a part of the solution. KBEN aims to create equity centered approaches to reduce disparities while creating a safe space to have authentic conversations and celebrating Black parents."

"We are committed to addressing the underlying root causes of maternal mortality and morbidity and applaud Senator Tina Smith and Representative Sharice Davids for introducing the Data to Save Moms Act, which will improve data collection to advance equitable responses to the ongoing maternal health crisis," said Stacey Y. Brayboy,Sr. Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs, March of Dimes. "The staggering maternal mortality rates women, particularly for Black and Indigenous women of color, face in the nation is an unacceptable trend that must be addressed without further delay. We are pleased this bill will take important steps to ensure the voices of pregnant people inform an equitable response to the maternal mortality crisis through comprehensive data collection."

In part, the Data to Save Moms Act focuses on Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). These panels, consisting of various experts such as gynecologists, forensic pathologists, and community groups, operate in states and localities across the country to examine cases of death within a year of pregnancy. This legislation aims to improve their data collection and broaden the scope of maternal health research by:

• Establishing a grant program to promote representative community engagement in MMRCs in states across the country.
• Commissioning the first-ever comprehensive study to understand the scope of the Native American maternal health crisis.
• Providing funding to establish the first Tribal MMRC.
• Conducting a comprehensive review of maternal health data collection, emphasizing the importance of listening to the stories of pregnant people.
• Investing in maternal health research at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs).

Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Senate companion bill. The Data to Save Moms Act was introduced as part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, led by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). This package of bills aims to comprehensively address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in America, including investing in research and data collection, growing the perinatal medical workforce, and improving health care for at-risk groups such as veterans and people of color.

The Data to Save Moms Act is endorsed by 180 organizations, including American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nursing, American Association of Birth Centers, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Heart Association, First Focus Campaign for Children, and March of Dimes.

Original source can be found here.