A Call for Increased Access to Maternal Health Services

The United States continues to hold the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized nation. In an effort to address this, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative. The IMPROVE Initiative supports research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy. U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, the Senate companion to Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick’s (R-PA) House bill, which would ensure continued funding for research on the maternal care and mortality crisis happening in the U.S. 

As United Methodists, we affirm that healthcare is a basic human right and specifically call for increased access to maternal health and family-planning services (3202: Maternal Health: The Church’s Role). Our vision supports access to quality, affordable, equitable healthcare for all. The current reality, however, falls tragically short of that vision. Worldwide, 830 mothers die each day from pregnancy-related complications. Studies show that 84% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable and that pregnancy-related deaths and complications disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities. In the United States, Black women die in childbirth at a rate three to four times higher than white women. If passed, the NIH IMPROVE Act would:  

• Authorize $53.4 million for seven years to carry out the IMPROVE Initiative and support research on potential causes of maternal mortality and severe morbidity.
• Approve research that would target disparities associated with maternal mortality and severe morbidity and aim to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths. 
• Additionally, the bill would also build an evidence base for improved care and outcomes in underserved maternal care deserts.  

Congress must pass the NIH IMPROVE Act to support the lives of moms. We, as a faith community, must join in this important work of pursing equitable care and resources for maternal health.  Use this form to contact your representatives.