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Pallone & Green Request Maternal Mortality Hearing

May 14, 2018

More women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States than in any other developed country

Following Mother's Day, Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX) sent a letter to Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) today requesting a hearing on maternal mortality in the U.S. and on proposed solutions to address the public health crisis.

"As the Committee with broad jurisdiction over public health and women's health issues, we have a responsibility to understand why more women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States than in any other developed country and what we should be doing to combat this crisis," Pallone and Green wrote. "We urge the Committee to hold a hearing as soon as possible to begin considering proposals to reverse this unconscionable trend and help save the lives of American women."

Each year, about four million women give birth in the United States. Women in America experience much higher risk in childbirth and the postpartum period than women in other developed nations. Despite falling maternal mortality rates in other countries, the estimated maternal mortality rate in the United States increased by 26.6 percent from 2000 to 2014. Furthermore, women of color are at a much higher risk of pregnancy-related death with black women being three to four times more likely to die than white women.

Full text of letter below:


May 14, 2018

The Honorable Greg Walden The Honorable Michael C. Burgess

Chairman Chairman

Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health

2125 Rayburn House Office Building Committee on Energy and Commerce

Washington, DC 20515 2125 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Walden and Chairman Burgess:

We write to request that the Energy and Commerce Committee schedule a hearing on maternal mortality in the United States in order to hear testimony from experts on how we can begin to address this critical public health issue. As the Committee with broad jurisdiction over public health and women's health issues, we have a responsibility to understand why more women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States than in any other developed country and what we should be doing to combat this crisis.

Extensive public reporting has vividly described the risks American women face in childbirth and the postpartum period and has highlighted the vast disparity in outcomes for women in the United States versus other developed nations. Despite falling maternal mortality rates in other countries, the estimated maternal mortality rate in the United States increased by 26.6 percent from 2000 to 2014. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that about 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications and while numerous factors contribute to maternal death, research has also demonstrated that most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

While women of all backgrounds are at risk for pregnancy-related complications and death, maternal death rates are disproportionately higher for women of color, low-income women, and women living in rural areas. In fact, the CDC notes that the risk of pregnancy-related deaths for black women is 3 to 4 times higher than those of white women. These disparities must be considered and addressed within larger discussions of maternal mortality as well.

The maternal mortality rate is a critical indicator of the quality of our health care system, as well as how we prioritize women's health in this country. Four million U.S. women give birth each year. It's time that we begin to address this public health crisis. I urge the Committee to hold a hearing as soon as possible to begin considering proposals to reverse this unconscionable trend and help save the lives of American women.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Ranking Member

Gene Green

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Health

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Issues:Health