STATEHOUSE (Feb. 11, 2020) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) that would address maternal mortality in Indiana passed the Senate today with bipartisan support.
Under current law, “maternal mortality” refers to the death of a pregnant woman, irrespective of the pregnancy’s duration, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy itself or management of the pregnancy.
Senate Bill 10 would amend the definition of maternal mortality to include deaths of pregnant women from any cause. SB 10 would also specify that for purposes of the review of records by the statewide maternal mortality review committee, health care providers include mental health professionals.
“I am very concerned that Indiana ranks as one of the worst in the nation for maternal outcomes,” Leising said. “Eighty-six percent of pregnancy-associated deaths occur postpartum, with substance abuse being the most common contributing factor. As a state, we must improve, and SB 10 is a positive step toward collecting the relevant data needed to adequately address and improve maternal outcomes.”
SB 10 will now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.