Senator Bill Weber in Politico on Maternal Health
Originally published in
Politico
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MATERNAL MATTERS: County Republican state Sen. Bill Weber is among those concerned with Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s audit this month of maternal health and the death rate among Black mothers.
DiNapoli’s office found the Department of Health has failed to sufficiently track the data of women who contract illnesses before or during childbirth as well as racial disparities.
Weber, a Hudson Valley lawmaker, wrote in a letter to Health Commissioner John McDonald he was alarmed by the findings.
“With the amount of money New York spends annually and asks its taxpayers to fork over each year, it is unfathomable to me that the severe maternal health issues outlined by the Comptroller still exist in New York today,” Weber wrote in the letter released Wednesday. “With all due respect, how is this possible?”
State health officials have recently hired staff to review and assess morbidity data and will add more workers using grant money, POLITICO Pro reported.
A DOH spokesperson said the department “remains dedicated to eliminating disparities so all people who give birth have birthing experiences that are safe, supportive, and empowering.” — Nick Reisman