PA Black Maternal Health Caucus October 17, 2023 | 9:54 AM
HARRISBURG, June 22 – State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, applauded the House of Representatives for unanimously passing a bill today to combat maternal morbidity.
Sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, S.B. 262 would require the Department of Health to report maternal morbidity data using hospital discharge data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council.
“With my partner expecting a child this summer, this bill is personal to me,” Mayes said. “As Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, S.B. 262 will ensure the Department of Health accurately reports maternal morbidity and provide us with data so that we may take legislative action to prevent maternal deaths.
“Through this bill, we can begin to combat maternal morbidity, which disproportionately affects Black pregnant people,” she said.
The bill passed in the House by a vote of 202-0. It now awaits Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature.
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