Summers decries lack of maternal mortality data in public health report

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis), member of the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services, released the following statement today following the committee's report not containing statistics on Indiana's maternal mortality rate:

“The exclusion of data regarding maternal mortality from this report is shameful. Too many Hoosier women have faced preventable deaths for us to ignore the issue that is staring us straight in the face. We are in a position to make changes that will enhance the quality of life for new mothers and their children. In order to do that, though, we have to begin by addressing the issues that harm mothers and children. Creating pathways for more women to access resources to overcome substance abuse, making sure women can access regular and affordable health care and addressing implicit bias among health care providers are just some of the ways we in the legislature could help save more women. But, if we aren't even willing to include maternal mortality data in our report, how can Hoosier women trust us to work on their behalf? We owe it to the 92 women who died during or shortly after childbirth in 2020 – and the many more women who have died in previous years – to take action on maternal mortality.”

After a vote, the final report was not approved.