The Biden-Harris Administration Plan Will Address the Maternal Health Crisis And Protect the Health, Safety, and Well-Being of Mothers in the Wake of the Roe Decision
Washington, DC — The White House released the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a government-wide strategy to cut the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity and reduce disparities among maternal health outcomes. Complications related to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum leads to hundreds of deaths each year. This maternal health crisis is particularly devastating for Black women, American Indian and Alaska Native women, and women in rural communities who all experience maternal mortality and morbidity at significantly higher rates than their white and urban counterparts. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, expanding and protecting maternal health care is more important than ever. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“This blueprint is a beacon of hope amidst the devastating news of Roe v. Wade being overturned. By eliminating Medicaid coverage gaps, diversifying the perinatal workforce, strengthening the social and economic support for pregnancy, this plan will help reduce stark inequities in maternal health outcomes. Meanwhile, Republicans have made clear they oppose any meaningful measures to combat the maternal mortality crisis, by undermining access to contraception and preventive services and fighting legislation to drive down health care costs and expand affordable care. With the rights to a safe and legal abortion being stripped from more than half the country, enacting measures to protect maternal health is vital. This blueprint affirms the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to the safety and protection of women.”