Act 5 will help ‘improve maternal health’ in PA, Mayes says
Act 5 was first signed into law in July.
Allegheny County Delegation October 31, 2023 | 3:14 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – Following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s ceremonial signing of S.B. 262, Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, highlighted how Act 5 of 2023 can improve maternal health in Pennsylvania.
Act 5, introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, as S.B. 262, amends the Maternal Mortality Review Act to require the Department of Health to report maternal morbidity data using hospital discharge data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. It also requires an annual report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee to include morbidity data.
“As an advocate for Black maternal health and reproductive health, rights and justice, member of the Women’s Health Caucus, and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I am thankful for Sen. Schwank’s leadership, as well as Rep. Morgan Cephas for introducing the House companion bill, and Gov. Shapiro for acting swiftly to sign S.B. 262 into law,” Mayes said. “This law will provide us with the data to improve maternal health for Pennsylvanians.”
Mayes will continue to work with fellow co-chairs of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus, Cephas and Rep. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, to advance legislation like Act 5 of 2023 that improves Black maternal health and addresses maternal morbidity and mortality in the commonwealth.