HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus (PBMHC) will mark its two-year anniversary on Monday, October 27, with a day of advocacy and celebration at the State Capitol. The event will spotlight ongoing efforts to address racial disparities in maternal health and celebrate progress made through bipartisan legislative action.
Founded in October 2023 by state Representatives Morgan Cephas (D-Phila.), Gina H. Curry (D-Delaware), and La’Tasha D. Mayes (D-Allegheny), the caucus was established to promote policies aimed at improving maternal health outcomes for Black women and other vulnerable populations. The anniversary theme, “Two Years Strong: Bridging Hope, Policy & Action,” reflects the caucus’s mission to unite lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates around a shared commitment to safe and equitable childbirth.
The day’s events begin with an Advocacy Day and press conference from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Capitol, followed by an evening storytelling and celebration program in the Capitol Media Center from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The program will feature testimony from advocates and women’s health organizations that have partnered with the caucus in advancing maternal health legislation.
A key focus of the anniversary will be the PA MOMNIBUS 2.0 — a 12-bill package designed to address Black maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications across the Commonwealth. Of the 12 proposed measures, three have already passed the House this session.
The initiative builds on the caucus’s first legislative package, which resulted in two enacted laws during the 2023–2024 session. Act 102 of 2024, introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Phila.), requires that information about perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders be provided to pregnant patients. Act 115 of 2024, sponsored by Rep. Cephas, expands Medicaid coverage to include doula services and strengthens data-sharing requirements related to maternal care.
“Together, they launched a bipartisan movement to advance bold legislative action, policy advocacy, and cultural awareness to ensure that every mother and birthing person in our Commonwealth can give birth safely and with dignity,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas.
The PBMHC continues to work with state and federal partners to improve access to prenatal care, expand provider diversity, and increase awareness of maternal health disparities. The caucus’s founders describe their approach as bipartisan and community-driven, seeking both policy reform and cultural change within the healthcare system.
Residents interested in attending the anniversary events can register online at pahouse.com/BMH/Events?ID=140695. More information about the caucus and the PA MOMNIBUS 2.0 legislation is available at pahouse.com/BMH.
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