Michigan Lawmakers Urged to Address Racial Gap in Maternal Healthcare

In Michigan, a significant push is underway to tackle the racial disparities in maternal healthcare. This movement is coinciding with Black Maternal Health Week, a national campaign focused on these critical issues.

Statistics from the state highlight a troubling reality: Black women in Michigan face a maternal mortality rate that is over 2.5 times higher than that of their white counterparts.

State Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of these disparities. “Black maternal health must be whole, person-centered, and holistic. It must include environmental and economic issues, and it requires removing the barriers to access and care and improving and cultivating meaningful policy actions that are actually useful,” Geiss articulated during her speech in the Senate.

Geiss is advocating for a legislative initiative known as the “Momnibus,” which aims to consolidate various bills into a comprehensive package. This proposal includes measures to enhance state data on racial impacts in reproductive healthcare, mandates for insurance coverage of midwifery, and protections against discrimination related to pregnancy and lactation.

Although the Momnibus has successfully passed the Michigan Senate in current and past sessions, it has yet to reach a vote in the state House of Representatives. In 2024, despite a Democratic majority, the legislative package stalled at the year’s end, and it has since been pending a committee hearing for approximately a year.

This week, the Mothering Justice Action Fund urged legislators in Lansing to advance the Momnibus. Aisha Wells, the group’s Deputy Campaign Director, remains optimistic about the bill’s prospects this year despite the setbacks. “I think that we can get a lot of moms, families, people who understand that mamas should not die if they’re having a baby. I think that’s simple enough for lawmakers to understand that we can pass that policy,” Wells stated.

Wells warned that failure to address these racial disparities would result in continued preventable maternal deaths. Meanwhile, the House Health Policy Committee leadership has expressed a broad commitment to enhancing maternal and infant health but has not clarified the future of the Momnibus bills.

Committee chair Rep. Curtis VanderWall (R-Ludington) shared his commitment: “As a father and grandfather, I’m passionate about ensuring every mother and baby has access to the safe, quality care they need. The goal should be better outcomes and improved care for all families, and I’ll work together with anyone who shares that goal. I’ve supported several policies to that end during my time in office. We should be committed to ever-improving maternal, pre-born, and newborn health for every Michigan mother and baby,” VanderWall stated.