Lilly Praises Law to Reduce Maternal Mortality among Black Women

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, hailed the enactment of a law to reduce maternal mortality among African American women.

“The United States has the worst rate of maternal deaths among similar countries and the rate is growing,” Lilly said. “This rate is even higher among African American women, and we must put a stop to this problem to protect mothers, protect children and ensure adequate health care access for women during pregnancy.”

Lilly sponsored House Bill 1, recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, to create a task force to offer specific recommendations and create best practices to reduce disparities in maternal health care and reduce rates of maternal mortality. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that maternal deaths in the United States rose nearly 140 percent from 1987 to 2015 and that maternal mortality is over three times higher for black women that white women. The CDC also found that nearly 60 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Lilly’s task force, which is made up of a variety of health care stakeholders ranging from medical professionals to community health experts, will deliver specific recommendations and practices on an annual basis to the General Assembly on how to reduce maternal mortality among African American women.

“It is shameful that so many women, particularly black women, have inadequate maternal health care and are unnecessarily dying. It is imperative that Illinois becomes a leader in correcting these disparities and protecting mothers,” Lilly said. “I thank all of my colleagues in the General Assembly who supported this measure and I applaud Gov. J.B. Pritzker for signing this measure into law so that we can begin to reduce pregnancy-related deaths among African American women.”