Costello, Herrera Beutler introduce bill to reverse trend of increasing U.S. maternal deaths

Legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello (R-PA) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) would help establish or support state commissions that examine pregnancy-related deaths and find ways to prevent them.

The Preventing Maternal Deaths Act would support states in establishing or maintaining Maternal Mortality Review Committees to help reduce pregnancy-related deaths, it would improve data collection and it would address disparities in maternal health outcomes.

“As a husband, father, and policymaker, the nationwide statistics on maternal mortality rates are alarming,” Costello said. “While we’ve made great strides in improving the delivery of quality maternal health care, the data illustrates that we still have work to do. By helping states better utilize this very data, we can then identify targeted, community-based solutions to improve maternal health and save lives. This legislation is a positive step forward.”

Globally, the United States’ maternal mortality rate ranks 50th. A study published in September 2016 found that the maternal mortality rate in the United States, based on maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, doubled to 35.8 in 2014 from 17.7 in 2000.

“Unlike in any other industrialized nation, the U.S. is seeing a rise in pregnancy-related deaths,” Herrera Beutler said.

Pregnancy-related deaths can be caused by complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and obstetric hemorrhage, or could be a result of challenges such as suicide or overdose due to substance abuse.

“For the sake of so many mothers and babies, we have to do better. Helping to establish and support Maternity Mortality Review Committees in states is a direct way to reverse this trend. I hope that through this legislative effort, we can help save the lives of women and children during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period.”

Costello and Herrera Beutler were joined by U.S. Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) in introducing the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act.