Maternal + Infant Survival

Policy Committee    September 18, 2025

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. Testifiers say the leading causes of maternal mortality rates in Pennsylvania include mental health conditions, drug overdose, cardiac disease and hemorrhages. Race, ethnicity and age continue to be strong predictors of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. 

• Host: Rep. Gina H. Curry (D-Delaware)
• Testifiers:
  • Tashia Bishop- Resident, Delaware County, PA
  • Dr. Aasta Mehta- Director of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health
  • Melissa Patti- Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives, March of Dimes
  • Dr. Meg Frizzola- Chief Medical Officer, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley
  • Lora Werner- Director, Delaware County Health Department

Agenda + Testimony

• Hearing agenda and testimony: Maternal + Infant Survival

Media Release + News Coverage

• Testifiers detail harrowing statistics of maternal and infant mortality rates in PA, September 18, 2025
• The Center Square, 'Universe of challenges': Experts weary over maternal and infant mortality, September 18, 2025

Video + Photos

• Click here to view the entire hearing
• Click here to view photos of the hearing