East of the River Maternal Health Teach In

Join ANC 8C with Councilmember Christina Henderson to discuss Maternal Health East of the River.

The District struggles with some of the worst maternal health outcomes in the United States, including an alarmingly high maternal mortality rate particularly for Black women. According to data from the United Health Foundation, as of 2019 the maternal mortality rate in the District had 35.6 per 100,000 live births, compared with a national rate of 29.6. The rate for Black women is significantly higher: 71 deaths per 100,000 births, compared with 63.8 nationally. This contributes to a massive Black-White life expectancy gap in the city.

Numerous social determinants contribute to this crisis, with access to perinatal care remaining a persistent problem. Although more than 95% of District residents have health insurance, free preventative healthcare services remain underutilized. Studies indicate that less than half of women on Medicaid are receiving the recommended number of prenatal visits or a postpartum visit within the recommended 21 to 56 days after birth. Further, about half of Black women and more than 1 in 3 Hispanic women in DC do not get prenatal care until their second or third trimester.

BILL SUMMARY - As introduced, Bill 24-0026 establishes a pilot program for Medicaid reimbursement of doula services, which includes emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Among other things, It also requires the Department of Health to conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a birthing center east of the river.

The goal is to educate residents about this bill and to register residents to testify at the hearing.

Persons wishing to provide oral testimony should contact Malcolm Cameron, Legislative

Analyst of the Committee on Health by e-mail at mcameron@dccouncil.us or by phone at (202) 341-

4425 before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021. When sending an e-mail or leaving a voicemail,

please provide Mr. Cameron with the following information:

• Your first and last name;

• The name of the organization you are representing (if any);

• Your title with the organization;

• Your e-mail address;

• Your phone number