HARRISBURG – Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration is developing a new Maternal Health Strategic Plan, aimed at address high maternal mortality rates, especially among Black women. The work began last year with $2.3 million in the state budget and will be expanded with $2.6 million in the current year.
Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen recently visited Tri County Community Action in Harrisburg for a roundtable discussion with maternal health advocates to discuss development of the new strategic plan, designed to ensure all pregnant women in Pennsylvania get the prenatal and postpartum care they need to live healthy lives for both themselves and their children.
“The Shapiro Administration wants to make sure that all Pennsylvanians can be healthy and thrive, and that includes taking care of moms and children with high-quality, accessible, equitable and affordable health care. Too many women in Pennsylvania – especially Black women – die because they do not receive the care they need before, during, and after their pregnancies,” Arkoosh said. “This is unacceptable, and the Maternal Health Strategic Plan aims to reverse the staggering maternal mortality rates by offering real solutions to inequities in maternal health and by improving access to care. I am grateful to the representatives from community action organizations for lending their voices to this important work to help families and potentially save lives.”
Since taking office, Shapiro has prioritized addressing maternal health disparities, state officials said. The $2.3 million in the 2023-24 budget marked the first-ever investment in addressing maternal mortality. Those funds went to expand maternal health programming and for the implementation of prevention strategies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. The $2.6 million in the 2024-25 budget will expand those efforts and move to create the strategic plan.
“To improve maternal health and implement recommendations from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Department of Health created the Division of Maternal Health Services earlier this year,” Bogen said. “Improving maternal and infant care requires a statewide response. Input from community action organizations and other partners throughout the Commonwealth will help inform our strategic plan and ensure that pregnant women and their babies — especially disproportionately affected Black women — get the care they need to thrive.”
State data shows that between 2016 and 2022, the cases of severe maternal morbidity stood at 72.3 cases per 10,000 for non-Hispanic white women compared with 152.2 cases for Black women. Severe maternal morbidity is defined as labor and delivery complications resulting in threats to life and long-term health consequences. These data mirror national averages, with trends moving upward, according to a report developed by the state Bureaus of Epidemiology and Family Health.
Earlier this year, DHS expanded access to doulas for Medicaid recipients, as doula services have been found to ease the pregnancy and labor process and improve birth outcomes for both mother and child. This change allows certified doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers and enables Medicaid managed care organizations to enter into network agreements with them, allowing them to bill directly for services offered through pregnancy and postpartum.
In addition, DHS is currently working with the federal government to expand services available to support pregnant women covered by Medicaid, state officials indicated.
When completed, the Maternal Health Strategic Plan will include priorities centering on equity and diversity, with a focus on increasing access to high-quality care, expanding and diversifying the maternal health care workforce and ensuring care in rural areas and maternity care deserts, where no ob-gyn services and hospitals that offer delivery are available. The effort also will address behavioral health and substance use disorder services and supports.
Tri County Community Action is dedicated to empowering families, strengthening communities and fostering equity throughout Central Pennsylvania, said the agency’s CEO, Jennifer Wintermyer. The agency serves, Perry, Cumberland and Dauphin counties.
With a focus on addressing social determinants of health—such as housing, education, employment and financial stability—TCCA works to break the cycle of poverty and create lasting opportunities for individuals and families, Wintermyer said.
Through programs in early childhood and family development, housing security, workforce readiness, financial empowerment, and community development, TCCA provides holistic support to help communities thrive. Last year alone, TCCA served more than 27,000 individuals across the tri-county region, advancing its mission to transform lives and promote well-being for all.
The Maternal Health Strategic Plan and survey results will be shared with maternal health leaders across Pennsylvania through DHS, DOH, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, as well as the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women and Pennsylvania’s General Assembly.
