by John Reid

According to the National Institute of Health, Black women have a maternal mortality rate of 2.9 times that of white women in the United States. Sadly, the conditions and challenges that expectant Black women face are ignored or dismissed by medical practitioners. Despite the advances in medical science, racial disparities continue to rise.

While Black Maternal Health Week was established throughout the country in order to bring awareness to this issue, it will be celebrated in Virginia starting next week. The event came together after a 2023 study highlighted the aforementioned disparities in underserved communities.

Led by Henrico County Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling and Petersburg Senator Lashrecse Aird, Governor Glenn Youngkin passed several bills to resolve the issue. The bills were as follows:

• SB35 directs the Board of Medicine to require unconscious bias and cultural competency training as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure. The bill specifies requirements for the training and requires the Board of Medicine to report on the training to the Department of Health and the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative. 
• HB935 requires health insurers, corporations providing health care subscription contracts, and health maintenance organizations whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for obstetrical services to provide coverage for doula care services provided by a state-certified doula. The bill requires such coverage to include coverage for at least eight visits during the antepartum or postpartum period and support during labor and delivery. 
• HB831 directs the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Maternal Mortality Review Team to convene a work group to expand the work of the Maternal Mortality Review Team. 

Senator Aird celebrated the accomplishment on X:

The bills have passed both legislative chambers, but are awaiting signature by Youngkin. Black Maternal Health Week will be from April 11 – 17. In the meantime, organizations such as The Virginia Women and Family Support Center, whose mission is to help mothers in the pre- and post- delivery process, will host their annual Breaking Cycles Women’s Conference on April 20th. If you’d like to join, please visit their website.