SENATE RESOLUTION No. 126
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 28, 2019
Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Vitale and T.Kean
SYNOPSIS
Urges CDC to adopt uniform data system to collect information on maternal mortality.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on February 7, 2019, with amendments.
A Senate Resolution urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to adopt a uniform data system to collect information on maternal mortality.
Whereas, The United States is ranked 50th in the world for its maternal mortality rate, and is one of eight countries in which the maternal mortality rate has been on the rise; and
Whereas, Recent studies have found that the estimated maternal mortality rate in the United States increased by approximately 27 percent between 2000 and 2014, with the rate increasing in nearly every state in the country; and
Whereas, Maternal deaths in the United States result from pregnancy-related causes such as hemorrhage, hypertensive disease, preeclampsia, embolic disease, and sepsis, addiction-related causes such as substance use disorder and overdose, and violent causes, including motor vehicle accidents, homicide, and suicide; and
Whereas, The most severe complications of pregnancy, generally referred to as severe maternal morbidity, affect more than 65,000 women in the United States each year; and
Whereas, In 1986, the1federal1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented a Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PRAMS) to obtain information about the frequency and causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States; and
Whereas, Despite declines in maternal deaths in other parts of the world, the data collected under the PRAMS has shown a steady increase in the number of reported pregnancy-related deaths in the United States; and
Whereas, In 2012, the most recent year for which surveillance data is available, there were approximately 16 pregnancy-related deaths per every 100,000 live births in the United States; and
Whereas, The most recent State-level data available on this issue indicates that, from 2006 to 2008, the average pregnancy-related mortality rate in New Jersey was 14.4 deaths per 100,000 births; and
Whereas, Systemic reviews of maternal pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths are essential in determining strategies for developing prevention efforts, identifying at-risk populations, and understanding how to support expectant mothers and make pregnancy and the postpartum period safer; and
Whereas, The CDC recommends that maternal deaths be investigated through State maternal mortality review committees; and
Whereas, Currently, fewer than 25 states conduct systemic reviews of maternal deaths or have standing maternal mortality review committees; and
Whereas, Although 1[there is a bill pending before] several bills have been introduced1 in the United States Congress1[, S.1112, the federal “Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2017,” that would require the CDC to support states and federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations in assessing the various factors that may contribute to maternal mortality, including quality of care and systemic problems in the delivery of health care,] in the current and past sessions that would provide grants and funding to assist states in tracking and reviewing maternal mortality data, no federal legislation has yet been enacted and1 there is 1currently1 no uniform data system to collect information on pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths; and
Whereas, Adopting such a system would allow states and the federal government to share responsibility in identifying opportunities for improving maternal health care services, make recommendations on improving maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy, and implement system changes relating to maternal health care; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the 1federal1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to adopt a adopt a uniform data system to collect information on maternal mortality to allow states and the federal government to share responsibility in identifying opportunities for improving maternal health care services, make recommendations on improving maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy, and implement system changes relating to maternal health care.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the 1 Clerk of the General Assembly or the1 Secretary of 1[State] Senate1 to the Director of the 1federal1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to every member of New Jersey’s congressional delegation.