House Passes Carson Legislation to Combat Maternal Mortality, Fight Health Disparities

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (H.R. 4995) which included Representative André Carson’s bipartisan legislation, the Excellence in Maternal Health Act (H.R. 4215). This bipartisan bill, introduced with Representative Carson’s fellow Hoosier Representative, Larry Bucshon (R), will make significant strides in combating maternal mortality by working to improve maternal health access and quality, reduce health disparities and discrimination, and strengthen training for health care providers.

“Protecting the health and safety of mothers and families isn’t a partisan issue. That’s why I’m incredibly pleased that my colleagues in the House have overwhelmingly passed this piece of bipartisan legislation to reduce maternal mortality and save lives,” said Congressman Carson. “Mothers across America continue to die during pregnancy and childbirth, and these deaths are often preventable. This is certainly the case in Indiana, which has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in America.

“Preventing maternal mortality is also an important step in our fight for racial justice. Black and Brown women are significantly more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth, which worsens the widening health disparities that people of color experience. Preventing disproportionate deaths in childbirth for Black and Brown mothers is critical.  We must do everything in our power to expand access to quality health care that can keep these women alive and thriving as they raise the next generation of leaders, which helps all of our communities become stronger.

“Now that the House has passed the bill, I urge the Senate to also pass it as quickly as possible. The sooner it becomes law, the sooner we can help ensure more happy and healthy families in Indiana and across America.”

Specifically, the Excellence in Maternal Health Act works to combat maternal morality by providing:

·      $10 million to help develop and enact best practices to eliminate maternal morality through improved maternal health access and quality;

·      $25 million over five years to establish a grant program to train health care professionals on ways to reduce and prevent racial discrimination in providing prenatal care, labor care, birthing, and postpartum care;

·      $15 million in grants to help states deliver integrated health care services that reduce maternal mortality and related health disparities.

To read the bill, click here: (link)