PENNSYLVANIA — In a significant move towards improving maternal health, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has ceremonially signed Senate Bill (SB) 262. The signing took place on Tuesday in the presence of Senator Judy Schwank, Representative Morgan Cephas, and members from the Black Maternal Health Caucus and Women’s Health Caucus.
SB 262, now Act No. 5 of 2023, amends the Maternal Mortality Review Act of May 9, 2018. It ensures access to data on maternal health and mortality in Pennsylvania, enabling researchers, doctors, and policymakers to make informed decisions about medical care for mothers and their families.
The law mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to annually publish severe maternal morbidity data using hospital discharge data from the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4). This data will be included in the report submitted by Pennsylvania’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) to the General Assembly, healthcare providers, and the public at least once a year, a significant increase from the previous requirement of every three years.
By passing this legislation, Pennsylvania joins nearly 40 other states in implementing requirements on maternal mortality data, with no additional cost associated. SB 262 seeks to protect women’s health and deliver transparency into causes of maternal mortality, especially among Black mothers who often have the highest mortality rates. The Departments of Health and Human Services will collect and publish the data annually.
Governor Shapiro had previously announced specific investments of $2.3 million to expand maternal health programming in his 2023-2024 budget address in March.
Speaking at the signing, Governor Shapiro said, “Improving maternal health is a top priority for my Administration, and today we celebrate taking a vital step forward to better protect moms and babies. Across the Commonwealth and throughout the country, rates of maternal mortality are rising, and for Black mothers, that risk is even greater regardless of their income or zip code. Even for the wealthiest Black mothers, their babies are twice as likely to die within the first year. We can’t accept that – and we won’t. To make a real difference for moms and families, we need more data to understand what’s happening here – and how we can help. I was proud to sign this bill into law and I applaud Senator Schwank and Representative Cephas’ leadership in bringing this important legislation to my desk.”
With the passing of SB 262, Pennsylvania aligns with nearly 40 other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, in taking decisive action on maternal mortality data. The state has made a significant stride forward in its commitment to improving maternal health and reducing maternal mortality rates.
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