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Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and Second Lady of Pennsylvania Blayre Holmes Davis, along with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and other leaders, visited The Midwife Center for Birth & Women’s Health to discuss efforts to improve maternal health care, focusing on pregnant women and children, particularly among people of color.
The U.S., including Pennsylvania, has seen an increase in pregnancy-associated deaths. Pennsylvania’s rate is 82 per 100,000 live births, with Black women being twice as likely to die during or after pregnancy compared to white women. The Shapiro Administration aims to address these maternal health issues, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on Black women.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget for the current year includes $2.3 million for studying and preventing maternal mortality. The proposed 2024-25 budget increases this funding to $2.7 million, targeting maternal mortality prevention, especially among Black mothers. The funds support organizations and local coalitions through the Department of Health, focusing on improving healthcare coordination and specifically targeting black maternal health to reduce disparities.
A new Division of Maternal Health is being launched within the Department of Health to administer the Maternal Mortality Review Committee’s recommendations, with $1.7 million allocated for this purpose. Additionally, a Request for Applications (RFA) will be issued for regional grants to support local healthcare coordination and services.
The Midwife Center, established in 1982 as a freestanding birth center in southwest Pennsylvania, provides evidence-based, holistic reproductive healthcare and welcomes around 400 babies annually.
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