California’s ‘Momnibus’ Act Addresses Disparities in Maternal, Infant Health
On Oct. 4, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, designed to improve maternal and infant outcomes – particularly for families of color.
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. An estimated 700 deaths per year in the U.S. are pregnancy-related with about 3 in 5 deemed preventable. Families of color are disproportionately impacted by maternal and infant death. A recent report from the California Department of Public Health revealed the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women is four to six times higher than other racial/ethnic groups. In 2018, 1,917 babies died in California before reaching the age of one, with the mortality rate for Black and Indigenous/Native American infants much higher than the state's average.
Authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) with support from maternal health and racial justice groups across the state, the bill seeks to improve research and data collection on racial and socio-economic factors that contribute to higher rates of maternal and infant mortality in communities of color.
To close the existing racial gaps in maternal and infant mortality, SB 65 codifies and strengthens the work of the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee, which will investigate pregnancy-related deaths and make recommendations on best practices to avoid these preventable tragedies; improves data collection in the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review process; creates a fund to support the midwifery workforce, upon appropriation from the Legislature; establishes a stakeholder workgroup to support implementation of the new Medi-Cal doula benefit; and reduces CalWORKs paperwork requirements for pregnant women. Research points to structural racism and other socio-economic factors as playing key roles in causing racial and geographic disparities in birthing outcomes for people of color.
SB 65 builds upon the 2021-22 state budget’s investments to tackle racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, according to a statement from the governor’s office. They include Medi-Cal coverage for doulas, extending Medi-Cal eligibility for postpartum people, providing easier access to CalWORKs for pregnant people and establishing a guaranteed income pilot program that prioritizes pregnant Californians with low-incomes. In 2019, Gov. Newsom signed SB 464 by Senator Holly Mitchell, which also works to reduce the Black maternal mortality rate by requiring all perinatal health care providers to undergo implicit bias training.
SB 65 is sponsored by Black Women for Wellness Action Project, the California Nurse Midwife Association, March of Dimes, NARAL, National Health Law Program, Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Women’s Foundation of California Solis Policy Institute.
“Gov. Newsom’s signing SB 65, the California Momnibus Act, represents a significant victory for Black maternal and infant health. Despite our medical advances, more U.S. babies and mothers die during birth than in all other high-income countries, and these preventable deaths are disproportionately higher for black families,” said Senator Skinner, vice chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, in a statement. “With the enactment of SB 65, California will help close racial disparities in maternal and infant deaths and save lives.”
A federal Momnibus Act now in Congress, like the California Momnibus Act, is a comprehensive approach to addressing the maternal health crisis and improving health outcomes for communities of color.
