Davis Measure to Improve Maternal Health Care Outcomes Passes Key House Committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, is taking aim at disparities in maternal health outcomes through a bill that requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to ensure that those who serve as maternal health care providers receive instruction on implicit biases as part of their required training.

“Making sure all of our health care providers understand how unconscious bias can influence their decision-making is absolutely critical,” said Davis. “A healthcare provider who ignores or fails to recognize a mother’s needs due to unconscious bias does a serious disservice to patients everywhere.”

Davis’ House Bill 2517 recently passed out of the Illinois House Health Care Licenses Committee on Wednesday. Davis’ measure will improve outcomes for mothers, especially Black mothers who are three times more likely to die during birth when compared to white mothers. The elevated death rate has led some experts to sound the alarm on the Black Maternal Health Crisis.

Davis’ measure seeks to address the crisis by making sure that all maternal health care providers – from doctors and midwives to doulas, receive instruction on implicit bias as part of their required continuing education courses. Healthcare providers will receive more information on the disparities facing marginalized women and how implicit biases can further degrade the quality of care they receive. For example, a Black expectant mother’s elevated blood pressure may not be recognized as problematic in a timely fashion because healthcare providers know that Black Americans generally have higher blood pressure than their white counterparts. Delays in care that arise from biases can have deadly consequences for mothers and their children.