Massachusetts Passes Maternal Health Bill

Massachusetts passed a new maternal health law aiming to improve birthing outcomes, reports WPRI. The law provides pathways to doula and lactation consultant certification, increases access to postpartum depression screening, and removes barriers to opening birthing centers. Despite 98 percent of Massachusetts residents having health insurance, and despite the state recently being named the best state in the country for women, the rate of severe maternal morbidity almost doubled over the last decade. This is especially true for women of color, as black women have astronomically higher rates of complications. This law looks to address this inequity by providing access to services more often used by people of color, such as doula and midwife care.