New York State Senate Joint Public Hearing - 02/24/2025

Joint—Senate Standing Committee on Women’s Issues

Chair: Senator Lea Webb

Senate Standing Committee on Health

Chair: Senator Gustavo Rivera

Senate Standing Committee on Social Services

Chair: Senator Roxanne J. Persaud

and Senate Standing Committee on Mental Health

Chair: Senator Samra Brouk

Public Hearing: An Examination of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Rates in New York State

Place: Van Buren Hearing Room A, Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12247

Time: 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

SUBJECT: State of Maternal Health: An Examination of Maternal Mortality And Morbidity Rates in New York State

PURPOSE: The purpose of the hearing is to document concerns, and ideas from various stakeholders and impacted individuals about the barriers to prenatal and

postpartum care. Testimony will be taken from governmental administrators, advocacy groups, health practitioners and professionals, and individuals who have been impacted by maternal mortality and morbidity issues in New York.

The rate of maternal mortality in the United States is approximately 23.5 deaths per 100,000 live births, the worst rate of any high-income country. In the United States, New York ranks 22ndfor highest maternal mortality rate. From 2018-2020, the State Department of Health reported a maternal mortality rate of 19.3 per 100,000 live births. This rate also included a racial disparity larger than the national average. Black women were more than four times as likely to die while giving birth in comparison to white women in New York State, and more than 70 percent of these deaths are preventable.

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