On the legislative front in Michigan, maternity care is getting a long overdue booster shot. The state Senate committee has recently passed a suite of bills—dubbed the 'Momnibus'—that target the disparities and discriminations mothers of color routinely face in maternal health care. Complex, yes; essential, absolutely.
As reported by CBS News Detroit, the suite of eight bills is setting out to even the playing field in Michigan's maternal care landscape. Midwife and co-founder of Birth Detroit, Nicole White, has been on the ground, working to bring hospital-quality care through community birth centers and highlighting the need for education, nutrition, and mental health. While the Senate bills aim to create a kind bridge between hospitals and community birth centers, the goal is singular: healthier mothers and babies.
The package includes engaging triumphs, such as prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy or lactation status and supporting loan repayment for certified nurse midwives, which were particularly emphasized by Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) that secured amendments to them. The MHA provided details on these advancements through their official update, as seen on MHA, along with a chorus of support for other legislative pieces, such as a $10,000 one-time income tax credit for organ donors.
The palpable buzz of change for better maternal health outcomes isn’t just echoing through hospital corridors but resounded in the legislative chambers as well. Senator Erika Geiss, joined by her cohorts and supporters, sailed the Momnibus bill package through the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services with a splash, setting bearings straight toward the full Senate for what appears to be a warmly received landing. According to an article by Senate Dems, the comprehensive legislation is "crafted by women of color for women of color," aiming to "ensure that all can have positive prenatal, birth, and post-partum experiences rooted in joy and love with reduced trauma."
This concerted legislative effort is a nod, a recognition, and, dare one say, an overdue acknowledgment of the fact that systemic racism and bias have needlessly complicated and compromised the birthing experiences of women of color. In a statement obtained by Senate Dems, Cassy Jones-McBryde, the Policy Director for the State of Birth Justice Coalition, captured the essence of the movement, calling it a "turning point for maternal health.” The sentiment is rightly fueled by the desire to ensure equitable care across the board—because to truly heal, one must first level the playing field.
