WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Bob Casey, Elizabeth Warren, and Cory Booker presented the Mamas First Act on Thursday. This proposed legislation boldly targets the maternal mortality crisis that has been plaguing the nation, seeking to broaden the services covered by Medicaid to include the care provided by doulas and midwives. A companion bill has marched into the House of Representatives, backed by Gwen Moore, Ayanna Pressley, Lauren Underwood, Alma Adam, and Debbie Dingell.
The Mamas First Act is designed to confirm that no mother feels unsupported during childbirth. As Senator Casey elaborated, “This legislation will help address the maternal health crisis in this country by ensuring that Medicaid covers the full spectrum of care that mothers and infants need.”
A grim shadow looms over the United States when it comes to maternal mortality. This issue is not just about numbers, but also about lives. Women’s lives. Senator Warren asserted that the Mamas First Act could be a crucial tool in the fight against this crisis and would directly confront deep-seated disparities and systemic racism in the current healthcare system.
Talking about the need for including doula and midwifery care in Medicaid, Senator Booker emphasized the positive outcomes associated with such expertise. “Doula-assisted mothers are less likely to experience complications at birth, and midwife-led care is associated with healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies,” said Booker.
Congresswoman Moore echoed these sentiments, highlighting the opportunity for mothers to receive comprehensive support from doulas and midwives, extending beyond the traditional hospital environment. “Our legislation is an opportunity to empower more mothers with doulas and midwives – perinatal professionals who advocate for a mother’s needs,” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
In a clear show of support for the legislation, Congresswoman Adams pointed out the maternal mortality crisis that is far worse in the United States than in other countries of comparable development status. Adams stressed that adding doula and midwifery care to Medicaid coverage could save lives, and underlined the importance of mothers’ health in the broadest societal context.
The United States, unfortunately, holds the dubious distinction of having the highest maternal mortality rate among similar nations. Between 1999 and 2019, maternal mortality rates have shockingly doubled, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study. The problem is further amplified in Black and Native communities, where mothers face mortality rates two to three times higher than white mothers.
The Mamas First Act proposes amendments to the Social Security Act, to allow Medicaid to cover the services provided by doulas, midwives, and tribal midwives. This legislation argues that facilitating Medicaid reimbursement for these professionals would noticeably enhance health outcomes for both mothers and babies. Additionally, the Act aims to increase the availability of maternity services to under-served, under-resourced communities, resulting in a decrease of C-sections, easing maternal anxiety, and fostering better communication between pregnant women and their healthcare providers. The introduction of this act is a critical step towards improving maternal health care across all American communities.
However, it should be noted that a recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has cast doubt on the accuracy of maternal death rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suggesting that these figures have been significantly inflated due to misclassified data. This finding challenges the prevailing narrative of rising maternal mortality in the United States, stressing the importance of accurate data classification in understanding and addressing maternal health issues.
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