White House hosts first-ever Maternal Health Day of Action to address maternal mortality crisis

The White House led its first Maternal Health Day of Action on Tuesday, announcing a number of new commitments intended to improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce the risk of complications and death in the year following birth. The U.S., according to the administration, has the "highest maternal mortality rate of any wealthy nation in the world." 

The White House once again urged Congress to pass the President's Build Back Better Act, which includes a $3 billion investment in maternal health. If passed, the act would require states to offer Medicaid-covered health services for up to a year post-partum. The House approved the Build Back Better plan in November, but the act is still being discussed in the Senate.

The time immediately following childbirth is "critical," according to the Department of Health and Human Services. In a report published on Tuesday, the agency found that one in three pregnancy-related deaths occur between one week and one year after childbirth, making a continuity of health insurance vital during the time.