House Passes Bill to Address Racial Inequities in Maternal Health

BOSTON- Representative David P. Linsky (D-Natick) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass legislation that works towards eliminating racial inequity in maternal health. H.4818, An Act to Reduce Racial Inequities in Maternal Health unanimously passed on a roll call vote 159-0.

H.4818 creates a special legislative commission that will research and raise awareness for the systemic societal problem that results in women of color dying of pregnancy-related causes at a rate more than double that of white women. The commission will release a report on its findings and recommend best practices to eliminate these racial inequities.

“I was proud to join my colleagues in voting to create a commission that will examine the racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity. This was a crucial step the Commonwealth needed to take to address systemic racism in our society and the healthcare field in particular,” said Representative Linsky. “I want to thank Chair Michlewitz, Chair Khan, Acting Chair Cullinane, Representative Miranda and my colleagues in the House for all their hard work on this vitally important legislation.”

The 25-member commission will investigate and report on:

• Best-practices by other states or grass-roots organizations to reduce or eliminate racial inequities in maternal health or severe maternal morbidity, including, among other approaches, culturally competent and affordable doula services.

• Accessibility and affordability of birthing centers, maternal medical homes, and doula care and the diversity and cultural competency of maternal health care providers.

• Barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care.

• How historical and current structural, institutional and individual forms of racism affect maternal mortality as well as potential solutions, such as bias training in hospital facilities and birthing centers.

• Available data relating to maternal mortality and morbidity.

The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

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