2024 -- H 7262

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LC004015

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2024, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Ackerman,
Kislak, Kennedy, Shallcross Smith, Ajello, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Maternal health is integral to the health of our State, communities and

families; and

     WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more

than 80 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and severe maternal

morbidity regarding pregnancy-related complications lead to major short or long-term health

consequences; and

     WHEREAS, The rate of severe maternal morbidity among Rhode Island women

delivering in hospitals is lower than the national rate; however, the United States has the highest

rate among all wealthy nations; and

     WHEREAS, Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate of any racial or

ethnic group and that number is growing due in great measure to health care becoming

unobtainable for these mothers and others in both rural and urban areas due to ongoing financial,

staffing, and policy changes which have caused an "Access in Crisis" across the country; and

     WHEREAS, All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely

prenatal services across the healthcare continuum, and reducing prenatal health inequities through

policy and systems change can help improve opportunities for every Rhode Islander; and

     WHEREAS, To combat the maternal mortality rate, the State of Rhode Island has

engaged in ongoing efforts to systematically collect and comprehensively review maternal deaths

through the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee; and

     WHEREAS, More than one in four Rhode Island pregnant people have delivered a baby

by cesarean delivery which is now the most common surgery performed in the United States, and

is often preventable; and

     WHEREAS, Maternal substance use is increasing, with nearly one in four Rhode Island

pregnant people reporting substance use at any time, just before, during, or after their pregnancy;

and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is collaborating with community organizations,

hospital and health systems and clinical collaborations including the Perinatal Neonatal Quality

Collaborative (PNQC) of Rhode Island, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) of

Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Prematurity Task Force to reduce maternal mortality and severe

morbidity through collaboration and implementation of evidence-based initiatives; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health and well-

being of pregnant people by continuing public awareness and understanding of health risks and

factors that contribute to maternal death, to improving public and professional awareness of the

issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promoting the various efforts to reduce

maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims January 23, 2024, to be "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode

Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Stacy Paterno and Steve DeToy, Rhode Island

Medical Society.

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LC004015

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