WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call as he leads legislation to combat Black maternal mortality and reduce the maternal mortality rate statewide. Nationally, African American mothers die at nearly three times the rate of white mothers. Some studies suggest that up to half of all maternal deaths may be preventable.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the implicit biases that still exist in our health care system, and the many barriers to care that so many in our community face, from prenatal care to end-of-life services,” said Brown. “We know we need to do more, and I look forward to working with experts, community leaders, and healthcare providers to reduce racial disparities in our healthcare system, support women of color so they may have safer, healthier pregnancies, and improve health care for communities that are too often overlooked.”

Brown was joined on the call by former State Senator Charleta Tavares, CEO of Primary One Health in Columbus and Dr. Nancy Cossler from University Hospitals in Cleveland, an OB-GYN and Chief of System Quality for Obstetrics for University Hospitals. Both discussed the importance of Brown’s measures to help keep Ohio moms healthy and safe.

“This is a critical discussion, racial and ethnic disparities continue in pregnancy related deaths,” said Charleta B. Tavares, PrimaryOne Health Chief  Executive Officer. “Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women – and this disparity increases with age.”

“Senator Brown’s introduced legislation to address maternal mortality and health disparities is outstanding news for Ohio women and their babies,” said Dr. Nancy Cossler, OB-GYN and Chief of System Quality for Obstetrics for University Hospitals. “Data tells us that it was more dangerous to give birth in 2019 than it was in 1999, particularly for Black women. Healthcare cannot be excellent if it is not equitable. Data also points to heart conditions as a top cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Ohio, over half of which are preventable. This is unacceptable, and that is why University Hospitals is proud to participate in collaborative programs making a difference, like the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health’s Hypertension Quality Improvement Project. In its first phase the project is showing promise, as hospitals emphasize early recognition of pregnancy-related complications and timely treatment for best clinical outcomes. We are optimistic these steps, in combination with Senator Brown’s legislative efforts, will promote health equity and ultimately save the lives of mothers across our state.”

Brown is an original co-sponsor of the ‘MOMNIBUS,’ a package of 12 bills that would help reduce Black maternal mortality. Taken together, the bills would help address social determinants of health, support and build a diverse perinatal workforce, boost digital tools like telehealth and address the unique issues experienced by pregnant and postpartum veterans.

Last month, Brown introduced the Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act with Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), which would create a diverse, representative National Advisory Committee on Reducing Maternal Deaths. The Committee would establish best practices for all Medicaid-covered maternal care providers and clinicians to screen, monitor, and treat at-risk pregnancies; generate culturally competent materials to help inform pregnant women of potential risks during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum; and identify best practice for tracking maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity trends.

Earlier this month, Brown led a letter to Senate leadership encouraging the continued inclusion of the Medicaid 12-month postpartum provision in the COVID-19 relief bill, which extends Medicaid coverage for new mothers from the current 60 days postpartum to 12-months postpartum. This policy is essential to addressing our nation’s maternal mortality crisis – one that overwhelmingly impacts Black women. Brown successfully ensured the provision was in the Senate version of the package that passed over the weekend.

Last Congress, Brown joined Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) to introduce a Senate Resolution to declare racism a public health crisis. The resolution acknowledges the history of racism and discrimination within health care and the systemic barriers that people of color continue to face when seeking care and encourages concrete action to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society. 

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