Column: Taking action on the Black maternal health crisis

The Black maternal health crisis is real. Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at a rate three times higher compared to white women nationwide, regardless of income level and education. This crisis also impacts Black babies, who die at three times the rate of white babies, during their initial hospital stays. Since Day One, the Biden-Harris administration has been committed to eliminating this troubling health disparity by making investments in community-tailored programs that work. In 2022, the administration rolled out a first-of-its-kind Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. This blueprint is necessary and our work to improve health outcomes is intentional. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we are taking unprecedented action to reduce such disparities and strengthen Black maternal health by expanding coverage, implementing new policies, and providing funding to ensure safer pregnancies and postpartum services for new parents and their babies. The president’s 2023 budget provided HHS with even more resources to improve the health of our nation’s moms. It invested $470 million across HHS agencies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration made nearly $90 million in awards to support the White House blueprint and a whole-of-government strategy...