Maternal health refers to the pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal phases. Maternity care is the top reason Massachusetts residents under 65 are admitted to a hospital, but equity concerns also persist around birth experiences and outcomes.
Despite the Commonwealth’s strong overall performance in measures of maternal health, recent data indicate significant, persistent inequities in maternal health outcomes. In particular, HPC research found that Black non-Hispanic birthing people in the Commonwealth experience serious maternal morbidity (SMM) at 2.5 times higher the rate than White non-Hispanic birthing people.
The HPC invests in programs to address these disproportionate outcomes, expand and diversify the workforce of doulas and midwives, and improve the care and patient experience of Black birthing people specifically.
Launched in October 2024, the Hypertensive disorders Equitably Addressed with Remote Technology for Birthing People (HEART-BP) Investment Program aims to address inequities in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy through the use of patient-centered remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM) technology.
Launched in 2021, the Birth Equity and Support through the Inclusion of Doula Expertise (BESIDE) Investment Program aims to address inequities in maternal health care and improve the care and patient experience of Black birthing people by increasing access to and use of doula services.
The Cost-Effective, Coordinated Care for Caregivers and Substance Exposed Newborns (C4SEN) Investment Program has awarded $1.46 million to support innovative initiatives aimed at improving the quality of care of infants exposed to substances in-utero and their birth parents through at least 12 months postpartum.
The Mother and Infant-Focused Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Investment Program contributed to the Commonwealth’s nation-leading efforts to address the opioid epidemic by supporting enhanced care and treatment for mothers and infants impacted by opioid use. Nearly $3 million was distributed for interventions designed to improve care for infants with NAS and for women in treatment for opioid use disorder during and after pregnancy.