Assembly Appropriations Committee Advances Maternal Health Bills that Address Disparities in NJ Maternal Mortality Rates
(TRENTON) – As part of a statewide effort to address disparities in maternal mortality rates between African-American and white women, and to reverse the trend that ranks New Jersey 47thamong the states in maternal mortality with 37.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, a maternal health package introduced last month continues to advance in the Assembly with 16 measures clearing the Assembly Appropriations Committee Monday.
The measures focus on improving maternal health care in the state and addressing the disparities that show African-American women at a higher risk of dying from pregnancy complications than white women. From 2011-2014, the CDC found alarming racial disparities in maternal infant mortality deaths nationwide: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 live births for white women compared to a staggering 40 deaths per 100,000 live births for black women.
Expanding Medicaid coverage, revamping policies at general hospitals, evaluating the state’s current maternal educational efforts and conducting surveys that can provide key insight as to women’s perceptions on these efforts are among the bills in the maternal health package that were advanced today.
To read the full Press Release, click HERE
Comments (0)