AMCHP Congratulates States that Won New Federal Grants to Support Maternal Mortality Reviews

CDC Names Louisiana as 1 of 25 States to Receive Funds Under the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act

Source: Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

Washington, D.C. – The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) congratulates the 25 states that earned the first wave of grants awarded through the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act to support maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs).

The grants, announced Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provide between $150,000 and $600,000 to each state through the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) Program, which was authorized by the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, sponsored by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO).

The act was a top legislative priority of AMCHP, which played a leading role in helping to draft the bill, provide ongoing technical assistance, and advocate for its passage, which occurred near the end of 2018.

“We would like to especially acknowledge our many members who play an integral role in their state’s maternal mortality review process to ensure we honor the lives of women lost, by understanding what happened and preventing future maternal deaths,” said AMCHP CEO Jonathan Webb.

Through its long history of working with states to establish and strengthen such reviews, AMCHP knows that one of the keys to reversing the alarming trend in U.S. maternal mortality is to ensure that all states are equipped with the resources they need to identify and understand maternal deaths. These reviews examine deaths that occur during pregnancy and within one year after the end of a pregnancy, looking across systems and services to determine why a mother died and to make recommendations to prevent future deaths.

The states receiving grants are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah (collaborating with Wyoming), Washington, and Wisconsin.

The CDC said the funds will help agencies and organizations that coordinate and manage MMRCs to identify, review, and characterize maternal deaths; and identify prevention opportunities. Through this work, the CDC said, it aims to:

• Facilitate an understanding of the drivers of maternal mortality and complications of pregnancy, and better understand the associated disparities.
• Determine what interventions at patient, provider, facility, system, and community levels will have the most impact.
• Implement initiatives in the right places for families and communities who need them most.

More than 40 states and territories have established or are in the process of establishing a MMRC. AMCHP acknowledges those MMRCs not awarded grants in this first cycle, and their ongoing efforts in service of their mothers and families. The process of establishing and administering an MMRC is a resource-intensive process, often buttressed by the Title V MCH Services Block Grant. AMCHP stands at-the-ready to continue our support for all states and territories as they expand their collaborations across diverse and influential stakeholders and build sustainability for this crucial process.

To learn more about MMRCs, visit Review to Action, which promotes the state-based maternal mortality review process as the best way to understand why maternal mortality in the United States is increasing and to prioritize interventions to improve maternal health. Review to Action is a resource developed by AMCHP in partnership with the CDC Foundation and the CDC Division of Reproductive Health.

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AMCHP is the national membership association of state maternal and child health leaders. As an advocate, resource and partner, AMCHP’s mission is to protect and promote the optimal health of women, children, and families. We envision a nation that values and invests in the health and well-being of all women, children, families, and communities. For more information, visit amchp.org or connect with AMCHP on Facebook or Twitter.