Posted: | March 19, 2024 04:49 PM |
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From: | Representative Gina H. Curry |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Improving Maternal Health Outcomes through Maternal Care Access Zones |
Maternity care deserts, areas without any accessible maternity care, are prevalent in Pennsylvania. March of Dimes has identified the following six counties to be maternity care deserts: Cameron, Forest, Greene, Juniata, Sullivan and Wyoming counties. The federal government has developed the designation of Maternity Care Health Professional Target Areas (MCTAs) to analyze areas across the country that are in need of additional resources for maternal care. Pennsylvania currently does not have a way to identify areas that could be at risk of becoming a maternity care desert. Building upon the efforts and partnerships of many organizations throughout the commonwealth and the federal government, my legislation would create the designation of a maternal care access zone for the purpose of identifying areas across the Commonwealth considered to be at-risk or identified as maternity care deserts. It is critical that these areas are identified so additional resources may be given to improve maternal health outcomes. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that would improve maternal health outcomes by designating maternal care access zones across Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB2136