“Our Momnibus package is the culmination of years of work to address the critical issues surrounding maternal health and well-being,” Cephas said. “These core areas of increasing access to care, eliminating maternal health deserts, and addressing social determinants of health, guide our focus in this comprehensive platform. This caucus has done an amazing job of developing a multi-pronged approach to achieve health and maternal care equity for birthing people across the state no matter where they live.” Read more
The bill is cosponsored by Rep. Gina Curry and Rep. Lisa Borowski and is part of a “Momnibus” legislative package introduced by the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus. Other bills in the package propose expanding Medicaid coverage for doula services, requiring private insurance coverage of blood pressure cuffs for new parents, distributing “welcome baby kits” to some new mothers and more. Read more
PA Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Gina H. Curry welcomes Rep. Bridget Kosierowski to discuss disparities in Black maternal health and necessary policy changes to improve outcomes. Read more
In a 2022 March of Dimes report, Pennsylvania had 6 counties classified as maternity care deserts. 14 counties had moderate access to maternity care. Read more
“We applaud the governor for working with us to address this crisis so we may ensure all Pennsylvanians have access to equitable health care of the highest quality.” Read more
The Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus would like to thank: A Home From Shana Foundation A Humbled Heart Inc., North10 Philadelphia AMERIHEALTH CARITAS BirthRoot Community Doula Black Women's Policy Center Cayaba Care Center for Women's Global Health at UPenn Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab Cocolife.black Family Practice & Counseling Network FCPN Francis Goodwin PR LLC Healthy Start, Inc. Maternity Care Coalition New Voices for Reproductive Justice Once Upon A Preemie, Inc Oshun Family Center Pettaway Pursuit Foundation Reclaim Black Motherhood LLC S.W. Doula, LLC Temple School of Pharmacy The Maya Organization The Foundation for Delaware County The Midwife Center Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania Womb Intensive Systematic Holistic Care (Womb-Ish ) Read more
New Jersey’s American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Tara Hansen Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the New Jersey Medical School, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and the New Jersey affiliate of the American College of Nurses-Midwives established Maternal Health Awareness Day in 2016. Since 2021, the ACOG celebrates Maternal Health Awareness Day across the nation. Read more
The bill now heads to the Senate for concurrence. Read more
“As a longtime advocate for Black maternal health and reproductive justice, co-chair of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus, and a new mother, I applaud the passage of Owen’s Law, which would make breast milk, an important source of nutrition for infants, more accessible for medically fragile infants in need,” Mayes said. “With two-thirds of mothers struggling with breastfeeding, Owen’s Law will provide critical support for mothers and birthing people across our commonwealth.” Read more
A new law will provide key data to improve outcomes for women, especially Black women, who have high rates of maternal morbidity across the state. Read more
Shapiro thanked the Women’s Health Caucus as well as Rep. Cephas and Sen. Schwank for their work on the issue, calling it an “important day” for the Commonwealth. Read more
“As an advocate for Black maternal health and reproductive health, rights and justice, member of the Women’s Health Caucus, and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I am thankful for Sen. Schwank’s leadership, as well as Rep. Morgan Cephas for introducing the House companion bill, and Gov. Shapiro for acting swiftly to sign S.B. 262 into law,” Mayes said. “This law will provide us with the data to improve maternal health for Pennsylvanians.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas, co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus , participated today in the ceremonial bill signing of Act 5 of 2023 into law, which adds “severe maternal morbidity: to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health. “I am still beyond excited about seeing Act 5 signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro,” said Cephas, who also is a former chair of the Women’s Health Caucus and who has championed the issue for years. “This a collective effort to prevent maternal morbidity in the commonwealth. Act 5 will help reduce the growing and alarming number of maternal deaths,” Cephas added. “I praise the efforts of Senator Judy Schwank who is leading this remarkable win. The collected data on maternal morbidity will facilitate a better understanding of risk factors and key patterns linked to this issue,” Cephas said. Senate Bill 262 , who has Schwank as its prime sponsor, is part of a package of bills aimed at addressing maternal morbidity and mirrors legislation authored by Cephas (H.B. 1362 ) in the past two legislative sessions and is a key part of her efforts to reduce Black maternal mortality and improve Black maternal health in Pennsylvania. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 30 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas, co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus , announced today that she will join the ceremonial signing of Act 5 into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The package of bills would help create better reporting of maternal morbidity data. Senate Bill 262 , sponsored by state Sen. Judy Schwank, is part of a package of bills aimed at addressing maternal morbidity and mirrors legislation (H.B. 1362 ) authored in the state House by Cephas in the past two legislative sessions. WHAT : Ceremonial bill signing of Act 5 . WHO : Gov. Josh Shapiro, State Rep. Morgan Cephas , and state Sen. Judy Schwank . WHEN : 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. WHERE : Governor’s Reception Room, PA Capitol. Media coverage is invited. Read more
Three state lawmakers announced this week the creation of the Black Maternal Health Caucus in an effort to find legislative solutions to Pennsylvania’s high rates of Black maternal mortality and morbidity. Read more
A long-time proponent of Black Maternal Health reform, Pa. state Rep. Morgan Cephas stands with her co-chairs Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes and Rep. Gina H. Curry to launch the new Pa. Black Maternal Health Caucus. Cephas and the caucus will work to advance legislation like the MOMNIBUS package of bills designed to address the prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity affecting Black mothers and birthing people of color in our commonwealth. Read more
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, said the state’s budget, H.B. 611, makes new and historic investments in Black maternal health, public education, community development, disadvantaged businesses and fresh food financing. Read more
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. Read more
The House Health Committee today reported to the full House legislation that would ensure proper data collection on maternal morbidity as lawmakers work to reduce the growing and alarming number of maternal deaths in the state.The bill (S.B. 262), which would add “severe maternal morbidity” to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health, mirrors legislation authored by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., in the past two legislative sessions and is a key part of efforts by Cephas and Reps. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, to reduce Black maternal mortality and improve Black maternal health in Pennsylvania. Read more
The House Majority Policy Committee hosted a hearing on Black maternal health and the troubling statistics involving Black mothers and birthing individuals and maternal mortality rates. The hearing corresponded with Black Maternal Health Week, which offers the public a chance to deepen the conversations about Black maternal mortality and Black maternal health in our commonwealth. Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.