Massachusetts House of Representatives is set to pass legislation aimed at tackling the growing maternal health issues in the state. After a leadership meeting on Monday, House Speaker Ron Mariano revealed that the House will vote on a maternal health care bill during the week. The urgency stems from the fact that severe maternal morbidity rates in Massachusetts have almost doubled between 2011 and 2020, with Black individuals experiencing notably higher complication rates.
The bill currently proposes alternative pathways to midwife licensure, removing barriers for health centers, and state-required postpartum depression screenings. Speaker Mariano emphasized that this bill is vital for improving care for mothers throughout all stages of pregnancy and postpartum. Advocates highlighted the significance of this bill for residents in rural areas such as parts of western Massachusetts where there may be limited healthcare access.
The bill aims to expand access to midwifery care and enable the opening of licensed birthing centers to address healthcare gaps in rural areas. Senate President Karen Spilka did not provide information on the Senate’s progress with the bill during the leadership meeting, though Senator Julian Cyr, co-chair of the Public Health Committee, expressed support for it last month. The House is expected to vote on this bill during a formal session scheduled for Thursday.
In related news, 22News, an NBC affiliate stationed in western Massachusetts since March 1953, continues to broadcast a combination of local news, network programming, syndicated shows and local content on weekdays at 4 p.m., accessible through their digital edition online.
