Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3/12/2025
From 2014-2020, the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) found 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. Racism, discrimination, stigma, and other social determinants of health contribute to disproportionate maternal mortality rates as well as barriers to accessing high-quality reproductive and perinatal health care. The rate of maternal mortality for American Indian and Alaska Native people was higher than any other race or ethnic group at 84 per 100,000. Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander, Black, and rural communities also face especially disproportionate risks, due to systemic inequities. State funds and legal structures allow the MMRP to make actionable recommendations to prevent maternal deaths and improve perinatal care. However, limitations and barriers still exist that hinder our ability to fully operationalize the MMRIA system, identify maternal deaths, and implement the recommendations of the MMRP into actionable steps. With this federal funding, over the next five years, we will enhance our current process of identifying, characterizing, and disseminating information on pregnancy-related deaths and opportunities for prevention. The result will be timelier, more comprehensive, and readily available information on strategies for prevention of pregnancy-related deaths and reduction of disparities that will add to national surveillance efforts.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).