To advance improvements in maternal health, Every Mother Counts collaborates with key decision-makers, thought and practice leaders, and community members.
We focus our work around top priority maternal health issues to advocate for policy and system change on multiple levels.
Local
In New York and New Jersey, we are working with partners like Ancient Song Doula Services and Village Birth International to expand access to community based doula support, including through the NY Medicaid Doula Pilot.
National
We support the development and passage of U.S. federal legislation that can improve outcomes and address inequities in maternal health.
International
We support our grantees in evaluating opportunities in Guatemala to help Indigenous midwives gain country-wide recognition of their credentials.
The Policy Landscape
Use your voice to advocate for quality, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all.
Change takes time, but with your help progress is possible. In 2018, there was unprecedented interest from Senators and Members of Congress in improving maternal health outcomes and equity.
Every Mother Counts continues to support ongoing legislative efforts and important new bills that have been introduced, showing that this long-overlooked problem is finally getting the attention it deserves.
S.1343 SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ)
H.R.2602 REP. AYANNA PRESSLEY (D-MA)
Maximizing Outcomes For Moms Through Medicaid Improvement And Enhancement Of Services
The MOMMIES Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes by targeting care access, quality, cost, and experience. Among other provisions, this bill will extend Medicaid coverage to a year following childbirth; pilot maternity care homes, a model that provides coordinated, comprehensive, and culturally appropriate services and care; and assess and recommend strategies to expand Medicaid coverage of doula care.
S.1600 SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA)
H.R. 2902 REP. ALMA S. ADAMS (D-NC)
Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies Act
The Maternal CARE Act focuses on eliminating racial disparities in maternal health. This bill will create a grant program to address implicit bias among providers in clinical settings during their training and will establish a Medicaid Pregnancy Medical Home pilot aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities that disproportionately affect women of color.
S.116 SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY)
Modernizing Obstetric Medicine Standards Act Of 2019
The MOMS Act focuses on preventing pregnancy-related complications and deaths before, during, and after childbirth. This bill will implement standardized best practices to prevent and respond to maternal complications by providing states and hospitals with access to new resources to address these complications.
H.R.1897 REP. ROBIN KELLY (D-IL)
S.916 SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL)
Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness Act
The MOMMA’s Act seeks to prevent maternal mortality by providing assistance to states regarding best practices in maternal mortality identification and review, increasing access to care, and expanding training in cultural competence. It extends Medicaid coverage from 2 months to a year following childbirth; supports the expansion of “safety bundles” to improve maternity care; and establishes Centers of Excellence for implicit bias and cultural competency education.
H.R.1551 REP. ELIOT ENGEL (D-NY) & REP. STEVE STIVERS (R-OH)
S.1960 SEN. DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI)
The Quality Care for Moms & Babies Act
The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act will establish the first ever quality standards specific to maternity and newborn care under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It will provide funding for new and existing quality care collaboratives to bring together states, health care providers, insurance companies, and community members to develop and carry out new strategies to improve maternal and infant care.
