Black Maternal Health Week 2026: Advancing Equity, Advocacy, and Action in Pennsylvania
- Apr 21
- 4 min read
During Black Maternal Health Week 2026, advocates, legislators, and community leaders across Pennsylvania came together to raise awareness and push for meaningful policy solutions to address the ongoing maternal health crisis.
The data is clear - and deeply concerning.
In the United States, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and more than 80% of these deaths are preventable. These disparities are not the result of individual choices, but rather systemic inequities embedded within our healthcare system.
In Pennsylvania and beyond, Black women and birthing people continue to face barriers to accessing quality, culturally competent care, with research indicating that many receive lower-quality treatment and experience discrimination within healthcare settings.
Access to care is also a growing concern. Millions of women across the United States live in maternity care deserts, and even in Pennsylvania, some counties lack adequate obstetric services and providers. These gaps in care contribute to poorer outcomes for both parents and infants.
Black Maternal Health Week serves as both a moment of reflection and a call to action—highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.
Policy & Advocacy Efforts in Pennsylvania
In response to these disparities, the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus, established in 2023, continues to lead efforts to advance policies that improve outcomes for Black women and birthing people across the Commonwealth.
A key focus of this work is the Momnibus 2.0, a comprehensive legislative package aimed at addressing maternal health disparities through targeted, evidence-based solutions. These proposals include:
Expanding access to maternal health resources and supplies
Improving identification of maternity care deserts
Supporting postpartum care and extending Medicaid coverage
Increasing support for families during pregnancy and postpartum
Promoting equitable and culturally competent care
These efforts recognize that the maternal health crisis is rooted in systemic and institutional inequities, and that meaningful change requires coordinated action across policy, healthcare, and community systems.
What is in the Momnibus 2.0?
HB 1088 – Blood pressure monitors coverage in private insurance
HB 1234 – Blood pressure monitors coverage in Medicaid
HB 1212 – Dad’s Matter Act - Establishing grant funding to engage fathers in childbirth (prenatal and postpartum) - direct the Department of Health to conduct a public awareness campaign about the importance of including fathers to improve outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, and to encourage health care providers to engage fathers during prenatal care and the birthing process.
HB 432 – Addressing maternal health deserts by identification - create the designation of a maternal care access zone for the purpose of identifying areas across the Commonwealth considered to be at-risk or identified as maternity care deserts.
HB 526 – Adding pumping to protected actions under Freedom to Breastfeed Act - legislation that would add pumping to the Freedom to Breastfeed Act, thereby protecting parents who may need to express milk in public. This legislation also provides for a private right of action for individuals whose rights to feed their child under the act are violated
HB 707 – Nursing parent rooms in state buildings - require all state buildings to adequately accommodate both employees and the public by offering a Nursing Parents Room exclusively for parents to use to breastfeed a child or express breast milk.
HB 1192 – Moms and substance abuse diversion court pilot program - creates a mother’s treatment court pilot program aimed at providing recovering mothers with the support and resources they need to confidently re-enter society.
HB 1240 – Maternal and Newborn supply kit pilot program - establishing the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Program within the Department of Health. Similar to the federal program, the program would give the Pennsylvania Department of Health the option to decide how to best distribute the Welcome Baby Kits including partnering with organizations to provide supply kits with necessary items for infant and postpartum care and educational information to new parents.
HB 1251 – Physical Therapy Practice Act – granting nurse-midwives authority to refer patients - allow nurse-midwives to make referrals for physical therapy and to sign fetal death certificates.
HB 1628 – Continue Medicaid coverage through 1-year post-partum - require the Secretary of Human Services to apply for a Section 1115 waiver to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for twelve months should the approved State Plan Amendment be withdrawn or federal authorization expire.
HB 1851 – Vital Statistics Law – allowing nurse-midwives to complete affirm reports
For more information visit the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus:
The Fund’s Commitment
The Fund for Women and Girls remains committed to advancing maternal health equity through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
Black Maternal Health Week is a powerful reminder that every person deserves safe, respectful, and accessible care before, during, and after pregnancy.
While progress is being made, there is still work to do.
We will continue to support policies, partnerships, and community-driven solutions that ensure all women and birthing people can thrive.
Because when we invest in maternal health, we invest in families, communities, and the future.
