Today, May 16th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-02) signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 7011, theMaternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12) and Ashley Hinson (IA-01), would allow for existing federal grants to be used for stillbirth prevention activities and greater access to care for expecting mothers.
This legislation is the House companion to S. 3797, introduced by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA).
“As a mother and a physician, I want to guarantee that our mothers have the support they need during this important time in their lives. Every child deserves a chance at life and mothers should not have their lives at risk during pregnancy,” said Miller-Meeks. “Ensuring that more babies are born alive and that our mothers survive pregnancy needs to be a priority. Making the investments and increasing access to stillbirth prevention services will save lives.”
Background:
In our nation, an alarming 23,500 babies are stillborn every year. This is greater than the number of babies that die during the first year of life and more than ten times the number of babies that die annually due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
According to a 2018 study, nearly 1 in 4 stillbirths are potentially preventable. Data comparing the United States to other countries confirms that our nation can do more to prevent stillbirth.
The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act amends Title V, the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant of the Social Security Act, to clarify that stillbirth prevention activities are an allowable use of funds. This clarification will support stillbirth prevention activities, thereby saving the lives of mothers and babies.
Original source can be found here
