Antonio, Kunze Testify on Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board Bill
November 16, 2022
Nickie J. Antonio News
Today, state Senators Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 137, which would modify the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board (PAMR). The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) established the Ohio PAMR to identify and review pregnancy-associated deaths with the goal of developing interventions to reduce maternal mortality, particularly for pregnancy-related deaths.
Senate Bill 137 would modify the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board to require an annual report on maternal mortality and morbidity, specify the professions and laypeople who will sit on the board and require that the board meet a minimum of four times annually. It would also require the board to identify the causes of and factors contributing to pregnancy-associated deaths and make determinations regarding the preventability of those deaths.
“Every day, women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth across the world,” Antonio said. “We cannot address maternal mortality without recognizing that Black women are disproportionately impacted by maternal and infant mortality. In order to reduce maternal deaths, we need to have a full picture of what factors contribute to these deaths. This bill will help our state get that full picture.”
“I believe it is critical that we strengthen Ohio’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board because the death of even one mother or child in Ohio is one too many,” Kunze said. “I am hopeful that with this legislation, we will bridge a gap in our understanding of infant and maternal mortality and work towards a healthier, happier Ohio for all families.”
Read their remarks here and watch their testimony here.
“Every day, women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth across the world,” Antonio said. “We cannot address maternal mortality without recognizing that Black women are disproportionately impacted by maternal and infant mortality. In order to reduce maternal deaths, we need to have a full picture of what factors contribute to these deaths. This bill will help our state get that full picture.”
“I believe it is critical that we strengthen Ohio’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board because the death of even one mother or child in Ohio is one too many,” Kunze said. “I am hopeful that with this legislation, we will bridge a gap in our understanding of infant and maternal mortality and work towards a healthier, happier Ohio for all families.”
Read their remarks here and watch their testimony here.