Padilla Joins Warren, Booker, Colleagues in Renewed Push to Combat Maternal Health Crisis

Mamas First Act would expand Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), alongside Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wis.-04), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-06), Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), in reintroducing the Mamas First Act , legislation that would help address the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. These services have been proven to reduce C-sections, decrease maternal anxiety, and improve communication between pregnant women and their healthcare providers. “As Republicans make health care harder to access and disparities worse, mothers across California and our country are in need of support,” said Senator Padilla . “This is the legislation we need to help close the maternal mortality gap that plagues too many mothers in California and across the country.” “Instead of slashing health care for millions of Americans like Republicans in Congress are hellbent on doing, we should be expanding access to care to protect every momma and baby,” said Senator Warren . “It’s unthinkable that the richest country in the world would also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The Mamas First Act will help fix this crisis by improving access to high-quality care and rooting out the deep disparities and systemic racism in our health care system.” “The Mamas First Act meets a crisis that is costing mothers their lives—especially Black and Indigenous women who walk into delivery rooms carrying risks no family should bear,” said Senator Booker . “By ensuring Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this bill delivers the trusted care that keeps mothers safe and babies alive. Congress must act now.” “Across this nation, 40 percent of moms depend on Medicaid when they give birth. Instead of gutting Medicaid, we need to strengthen it so we can save lives. The Mamas First Act would provide mothers with access to evidence-based supportive care that can lead to healthier outcomes for them and their babies,” said Representative Moore . “At a time when stark disparities in maternal mortality continue to hit our communities hard, I am thrilled to have such incredible colleagues and advocates supporting the Mamas First Act and the ongoing fight to save lives.” “The quality of care a pregnant woman receives should not depend on the color of her skin, where she lives, or her income. Each childbirth is different, and women and their doctors should be empowered to decide what care is best. By providing access to adequate and proper maternal services, including doulas and midwives, we will help end the maternal mortality crisis in our country and ensure our children start their lives out healthy and strong,” said Representative Dingell . “Support from care workers like doulas and midwives can make the difference between a positive and healthy pregnancy outcome, and a devastating one. Every mom should be able to access this critically important care,” said Representative Lauren Underwood . “As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I’m proud to join my colleagues and introduce the Mamas First Act , a bold step to address our country’s maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation care. Together, we can, and must, take decisive action to save lives and end disparities.” “Every mother deserves the care and support needed for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery,” said Representative Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus . “That is why I am proud to support the reintroduction of the Mamas First Act . Research shows that doula and midwife care can improve maternal health outcomes and reduce pregnancy-related complications. Yet the United States continues to face an unacceptable maternal mortality crisis, and Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women of other racial and ethnic groups. Moms can’t wait, and neither should Congress. We must expand access to high-quality maternal care and ensure every mother has the opportunity to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.” “It is incumbent upon us all to treat mothers with the dignity, respect, and care that they deserve—and that means tackling the maternal morbidity crisis head on, especially for Black communities who feel the disproportionate impact of this crisis,” said Representative Pressley . “Our Mamas First Act would save lives and improve the quality of care by expanding coverage for doula and midwifery care. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with my colleagues to put an end to the maternal morbidity crisis and protect mothers now.” Specifically, the Mamas First Act would: Amend the Social Security Act to allow doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid. Improve access to care before, during, and after delivery for underserved and under-resourced communities. Increase the focus on culturally competent and patient-centered care to facilitate better health outcomes. In addition to Padilla, Warren, and Booker, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). In addition to Moore, Dingell, Underwood, Adams, and Pressley, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Al Green (D-Texas-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09). The bill is endorsed by Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, the National Health Law Program, HealthConnect One, BMMA Inc. (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Incorporated), Futures Without Violence, Every Mother Counts, the American Association of Birth Centers, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Birth Center Equity, Families USA, and the What to Expect Project. “The Mamas First Act will help address our country’s devastating maternal health crisis, which is causing vast, disproportionate harm to Black and Indigenous mothers and newborns, by ensuring that Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, and other birthing care workers for the vitally important care they provide,” said Esta Soler, president and founder of Futures Without Violence . “We thank Senator Warren and Representative Moore for championing this legislation, which will ensure these critical providers can continue providing quality care to the millions of people who rely on Medicaid for coverage. We urge leaders in both the House and Senate to prioritize its passage.” “The Mamas First Act recognizes a simple but important truth: better support leads to better outcomes for mothers and babies,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA . “By expanding access to trusted community-based providers, including doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation will help ensure that more families receive the high-quality, culturally congruent care they deserve during a time of immense change, vulnerability and excitement. Families USA is proud to endorse it.” Full text of the bill is available here . A one-pager of the bill is available here . ###