Testifiers detail harrowing statistics of maternal and infant mortality rates in PA
Policy hearing focused on improving birth outcomes and survival rates
Policy Committee September 18, 2025 | 2:52 PM
CHESTER, Sept. 18 – An ongoing health care crisis in Pennsylvania is resulting in hundreds of mothers and infants dying each year during pregnancy or in the first months following birth. Rep. Gina H. Curry, who represents portions of Delaware County, convened a PA House Majority Policy Committee hearing Thursday to find answers and hear from experts about what can be done to improve health outcomes for all.
“Across our state, and particularly in counties like Delaware, we are seeing trends that demand urgent action. Too many of our mothers and babies are dying from conditions that are preventable and associated with lack of timely, quality maternal care,” said Curry, co-founder and co-chair of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus. “What we’re witnessing is a crisis that touches health care, economics, and racial injustice. No Pennsylvania family should ever have to worry if their ZIP code, their income, or the color of their skin determines whether their child survives their first year of life.”
A livestream of Thursday’s hearing is available here.
Testifiers say the leading causes of maternal mortality rates in Pennsylvania include mental health conditions, drug overdose, cardiac disease and hemorrhages. Data shows that 31% of maternal deaths occur during pregnancy, compared to 52% that occur postpartum, proving that maternal health care is vital even after birth.
Race, ethnicity and age continue to be strong predictors of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Black women in Pennsylvania die at more than double the rate of white women from pregnancy-related causes. Meanwhile, Black infants die at more than twice the rate of white infants, with mortality consistently driven by prematurity and low birthweight. Data shows these disparities are driven by a range of socio-economic factors including the conditions in which families live, work and give birth.
“These inequities are not biological—they are systemic, reflecting the conditions in which families live, work, and give birth. If we want to improve maternal and infant survival, we need policies that make people’s lives work— policies that ease economic stress, expand access to care, and strengthen communities,” said Dr. Aasta Mehta, Director, Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
Testifiers say another factor contributing to increased maternal and infant mortality rates is access to care. Approximately 12.4% of Pennsylvania women live more than 30 minutes from a birthing facility, higher than the national average. Several Pennsylvania counties, including Delaware County, are considered maternal health care deserts. This means families are forced to travel further for care, which puts both mothers and infants at risk.
“We know that moms are giving births in ambulances. And we must be clear, this is not just a rural issue. Families in all corners of our commonwealth face barriers to care, which fuels and increases low birth weight, pre-term births and factors directly related to rising mortality rates,” Rep. Curry said. “We need to use policy and resources to close the racial and geographical gaps in outcomes that have persisted for far too long. We’re committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of birthplace or background, is truly born to thrive.”
To improve health outcomes for both mothers and infants, testifiers recommended policies that increase access to maternal health care services, implement comprehensive paid family medical leave, and address mental health and substance use disorders as core parts of perinatal care.
In June, members of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, co-chaired by Curry, Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Phila.), unveiled the PA MOMNIBUS 2.0 legislative package, a comprehensive set of bills to directly confront the staggering rate of Black maternal mortality and morbidity in Pennsylvania.
Testifiers at Thursday’s policy hearing include Tashia Bishop, a local mother who shared her personal experience on this issue; Dr. Aasta Mehta, Director of the Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health; Melissa Patti, Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives for March of Dimes; Dr. Meg Frizzola, Chief Medical Officer for Neumors Children’s Health; and Lora Werner, Director of the Delaware County Health Department.
Testimony submitted for Thursday’s hearing can be found here.
Information about this hearing and other House Democratic Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy.