Michigan Senator Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and a coalition of Michigan Senate Democrats introduced a “MI Momnibus” bill package Wednesday to address disparities in Black maternal healthcare. In addition to the bill package, Sen.Geiss introduced Senate Resolution 107 to commemorate April 11-17, 2024, as Black Maternal Health Week, which passed unanimously.

The legislation aims to improve equity and accountability in the state’s maternal healthcare services, focusing on the significant health outcome differences faced by Black women.

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Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), and Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) co-sponsored the package.

Comprising Senate Bills 818-827, the bills aim to enhance community-driven programs and ensure that the healthcare system is responsive to the needs of Black birthing people, mothers and families. 

“As a state legislator, Black Maternal Health advocate, and mom, I am deeply aware that we must uplift that our bodies still belong to us, especially at this pivotal time when reproductive justice, rights, and freedom are under assault,” Geiss said in a statement. “We must recognize the intersections of economic justice and reproductive justice policies to improve Black maternal health and restore Black bodily autonomy and joy.” 

The bill package includes:  

• SB 818 (GEISS) requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to include studies and reports on biased or unjust perinatal (the period of time when you become pregnant and up to a year after giving birth) care, including but not limited to instances of obstetric violence or racism, on its website. The bill also codifies the use and duties of the Maternal Mortality Review Team, a collaborative effort to monitor maternal mortality between the MDHHS, Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health of the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS), and the chairs of the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the medical schools in Michigan.  
• SB 819 (GEISS): Requires the Dept. of Civil Rights to receive reports utilizing the patient-reported experience scale to identify instances of obstetric violence or racism.  
• SB 820 (CAVANAGH): Requires hospitals to provide the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs with information demonstrating that they have a policy to support patient protection.  
• SB 821(CAVANAGH): Upon request from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, the Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services will collect information on malpractice insurers’ policies related to perinatal care.  
• SB 822 (ANTHONY): Ensures pregnancy status does not affect the right for a designated patient advocate to make life-sustaining treatment decisions  
• SB 823 (CHANG): Amends the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to make clear that “sex” includes but is not limited to pregnancy or lactation status.  
• SB 824 (SANTANA): Establishes a non-punitive plan of safe care for an infant and parent if the infant is shown to be affected by alcohol or a controlled substance.  
• SB 825 (ANTHONY): Adds licensed midwives to the state’s Essential Health Provider Repayment Program.  
• SB 826 (CHANG): Creates a scholarship program for residents with low incomes working toward certification as doulas in the State of Michigan.  
• SB 827 (SANTANA): Requires private insurers to reimburse licensed midwives for services  requiring healthcare providers and state departments to address issues such as biased perinatal care and strengthen patient rights and protections.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that Black women are disproportionately affected by pregnancy-related mortality, with rates significantly higher than those for white women.

While infant mortality across all races has steadily declined since the 1990s, it spiked during the first year of the pandemic for Black babies nationally and in Michigan. In 2022, the infant mortality rate was 16.5 Black babies in Detroit per 1,000 live births – accounting for 101 Black babies; just four white babies died during that same period in the city.

Black infant mortality rates spiked in Detroit after record low in 2019

The legislation is part of broader efforts to tackle the complex issues contributing to maternal health disparities, including systemic racism, socio-economic factors, and gaps in culturally competent care. These efforts aim to improve access to and the quality of maternal healthcare for Black women, acknowledging the role of factors such as economic status and education in health outcomes.

“Black mothers face an uphill battle every day, often facing unique challenges brought on by systems that weren’t designed for them,” Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) said in a statement. “My legislation is a critical step in empowering Black mothers, allowing them to assert their preferences for life-sustaining treatments during pregnancy and ensuring their autonomy and dignity are respected throughout their healthcare journey.”

The bills propose integrating midwives and doulas more fully into the healthcare system, recognizing their importance in providing culturally sensitive and personalized care. This includes initiatives to support the education and certification of individuals in these roles, particularly targeting residents from low-income backgrounds.

“By including midwives in the state’s student loan repayment program for health professionals, we can strengthen the network of support available to mothers of color across our state while combatting workforce disparities,” Anthony said. “These bills are pivotal in addressing  the long-standing racial disparities in maternal health, making a significant stride toward more equitable treatment and outcomes for Black mothers in Michigan.” 

The legislation has been referred to the Senate Housing & Human Services Committee.