General Assembly Democrats on Monday outlined a comprehensive package of bills to address disparities in maternal health care that can leave Black moms and their newborns at dramatically higher risk of illness or death.
The package includes a new remote monitoring system for pregnant women with hypertension and diabetes, which can put them and their babies at particularly high risk.
House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, on Monday details a package of bills to address maternal health disparities.
It calls for expanding Medicaid coverage to pay for essential infant supplies, including diapers, as well as increases in what Medicaid pays key providers, including dentists.
It also requires hospitals to provide mental health resources to expectant mothers.
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In addition, the package would increase funding to clear the waiting list of low- and moderate-income families waiting for waivers to help pay for the cost of child care.
The package — tagged the “Momnibus” initiative — calls for training to help medical professionals recognize biases, as well as a commission focused on women’s health needs.
“Right now, too many mothers and babies are dying and suffering irreparable physical and mental damage due to broken systems and lack of resources,” said House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth.
“It’s not just health; it’s broken systems and lack of resources. Today, we have a substantial first step in changing that.”
He said 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, while Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes.
Some 30.8% of Virginia counties are considered maternity health deserts, he said. These are places where expectant mothers and newborns have to travel 45 minutes or more to access care.
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“Now women in Southern states with restrictive reproductive health policies face even more significant barriers to care. It’s just plain wrong. But today, today we’re taking steps to end this disparity once and for all,” Scott said.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said the package is “a holistic approach to address maternal health concerns before, during and after, pregnancy … losing even one mother to a preventable death is one too many,” she said.
Mundon King
Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, co-chair of the Black Maternal Care Caucus, said legislators and legislative staff are working to calculate how much the package of bills and budget amendments would cost.
“But our leadership has decided that this is a priority and that we will find a fiscally responsible way to fund those things,” she said.
Scott said early soundings suggest the measures have bipartisan support.
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