New York Comptroller Calls for Reduction in Maternal Deaths

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit on Tuesday that documented an increase in pregnancy-related health conditions and deaths since 2018. He is now calling for the state Department of Health to act on fixing it.

Since the Taskforce on Maternal Mortality and Disparate Racial Outcomes was established in 2018 to track maternal health and race disparities, the task force has seen a steady increase in maternal deaths, which increased by 33% from 2018 to 2021. Not only that, but according to data from the DOH,  78% of deaths during or after childbirth were preventable. Though the Department of Health has overall improved maternal health, DiNapoli says it is not enough. 

He is calling for the promotion of universal birth preparedness, postpartum continuity of care, the creation of competency-based curricula for medical providers and schools, and implementing a maternity medical home model for care and psychosocial services. The aforementioned taskforce has also advised New York to make a comprehensive data set to better monitor and track perinatal race, ethnic, and insurance outcomes. 

The Department of Health agrees with the recommendations given to them by the task force’s audit and have implied they will soon take action. The DOH already has numerous projects to assist in this, but according to DiNapoli, their oversight and coordination must improve.