Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, spoke on the House of Representatives floor in support of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2023.
This bipartisan legislation has been introduced by Congressman Burgess and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) to provide states with federal support to address maternal health disparities throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum while reducing maternal death rates.
Click HERE for full video.
Remarks as prepared are below:
I rise today in support of my legislation H.R. 3838, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act.
During March, we celebrate National Women’s History Month and honor the strong women in our lives, especially mothers who make great sacrifices to bring life into this world. According to the latest U.S. data, the maternal mortality rate rose yet again in 2021 to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to a rate of 23.8 per 100,000 in 2020. While we know that over 80 percent of pregnancy related deaths are preventable, even one death is too many.
The Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act works to understand and reduce maternal mortalities by reauthorizing federal support for state-led Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs).
Maternal mortality review committees are multidisciplinary committees that review the causes of maternal deaths in their state or other locality and make recommendations based on their findings to prevent future deaths and improve maternal health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
H.R. 3838 also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work in consultation with the Health Resources and Services Administration to disseminate best practices for the prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity to hospitals and other health care providers.
MMRCs are vital to understanding the drivers of maternal deaths and informing effective interventions, helping to ensure that resources are directed where they will have the most positive impact. Since its initial authorization in 2018, we have already seen the work of the Maternal Mortality Review Committees make a significant difference and increase the number of MMRCs from 32 states to 49 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Philadelphia, and Puerto Rico.
Through their work, this body was able to discover that 53 percent of pregnancy-related deaths happen between 7 days and 1-year post-partum, leading to the critical extension of the state plan amendment for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 12-month post-partum coverage.
The critical importance of this bill is furthered by the news from my home state of Texas just last week. Effective March 1, 2024, Texas extended postpartum coverage to the full 12 months for eligible Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program recipients through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. I want to thank Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature for their continued effort to protect and defend life, especially the lives of new mothers and their families.
Today, I am also joined by 740 of my fellow obstetrician-gynecologists who are on the Hill with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urging a YES vote on this critically important bill.
I thank my fellow Representatives Diana DeGette, Buddy Carter, Robin Kelly, Kat Cammack, and Kathy Castor for working with me on this important legislation.
Click HERE for bill text.
Background:
Burgess, DeGette Introduce Legislation to Address Maternal Health Disparities and Prevent Maternal Deaths
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