Legislature addresses maternal health

The Commonwealth’s commitment to accessible, affordable, quality health care for all residents is strong. In that motivating principle, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed H4773, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options.
 
This bill is a comprehensive response to recommendations from the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health.
 
This maternal omnibus bill centers patient safety by:
– creating state licensure for midwives and lactation consultants
– encouraging the creation of more freestanding birth centers
– raising awareness on pregnancy loss and perinatal mood disorders
– establishing a task force on maternal health access and birthing patient safety
– requiring certain health care providers to perform, and health insurers to cover, postpartum depression screenings
 
Rep. Hogan is grateful to Speaker Ron Mariano and Rep. Marjorie Decker, chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, as well as House colleagues and numerous advocacy groups for their vital efforts – including the Bay State Birth Coalition (pictured below).

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