Recap of “Maternal Health: Policy Implementation & Impact,” June 10 briefing at the State House

It was standing room only for the Maternal Health: Policy Implementation & Impact briefing at the Massachusetts State House on June 10, 2025 co-hosted by Bay State Birth Coalition, Mind the Gap Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, and the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression.

The program celebrated the passage of the 2024 Midwifery and Maternal Health Omnibus Law, provided updates on the law’s implementation, and delved into the impact of the law on the health and well-being of birthing people and families in Massachusetts. The Bay State Birth Coalition and Mind the Gap Massachusetts presented Maternal Health Champion awards to State Senators and Representatives who played a key role in shaping and passing the law. The program featured speakers Senator Liz Miranda, Representative Marjorie Decker, Representative Brandy Fluker Reid, Dr. Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, Stephanie Crawford, Steven Pascal, and midwives Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, Rebecca Herman, and Katherine Rushfirth.

Program

Video of Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie speaking on June 10

Opening remarks

Senator Liz Miranda, Senate Chair of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression
Representative Marjorie Decker, House Chair of the Public Health Committee
Representative Brandy Fluker Reid, House Chair of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression

History and meaning of the passage of the landmark 2024 Midwifery and Maternal Health Omnibus Law

Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, MPH, PhD, Boston University School of Medicine, member of the Massachusetts Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health

Maternal Health Champion Awards

presented by Emily Anesta, Jessie Colbert, and Jo-Anna Rorie on behalf of the Bay State Birth Coalition and Mind the Gap Massachusetts to

Senators Liz Miranda, Jo Comerford, Manny Cruz, Brendan Crighton, Julian Cyr, Cindy Friedman, Joan Lovely, Patrick O'Connor, Becca Rausch, and John Velis

Representatives Marjorie Decker, Jamie Belsito, Kimberly Ferguson, Carole Fiola, Brandy Fluker Reid, Sean Garballey, Danielle Gregoire, Pat Haddad, Kay Khan, Sally Kerans, Meg Kilcoyne, Michael Kushmerek, Adrian Madaro, Michael Moran, James O'Day, Lindsay Sabadosa, Chynah Tyler, and Chris Worrell

More about the honorees

Overview of the new law

Emily Anesta, Bay State Birth Coalition

Implementation of the New Law

Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, DrPH, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Dr. Fitzgerald Lewis shared status updates on implementation since the bill was signed into law in August of 2024. In less than a year, some of aspects of the law have been fully implemented, such as modernization of state birth center regulations, expansion of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and establishment of a state Maternal Health Task Force. Others are in progress, as shown in the chart below. Slides available here.

Panel

Community leaders shared perspectives on how the 2024 Maternal Health Omnibus Law is already benefiting communities and what is on the horizon as new maternal health programs and policies are implemented across the Commonwealth.

Panel: Stephanie Crawford, Propa City Community Outreach; Rebecca Herman, CPM, MPH, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives; Steven Pascal, The Children’s Trust; Katherine Rushfirth, CNM, Neighborhood Birth Center; and moderated by Jessie Colbert, Mind the Gap Coalition and Massachusetts PPD Fund

Some key takeaways from the panel discussion:

Rebecca Skye Herman, CPM, MPH, NHCM, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives

Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are critical to achieving the many goals of the omnibus, and are thrilled to finally be recognized by the state and get licensed as soon as the application process opens.
The CPM workforce will be essential to realizing the goals of birth centers across the Commonwealth, home visiting for postpartum families, and true integration across levels of care. In addition to improving the availability of CPMs, we also need policies and regulations to ensure equitable and sustainable financing for community perinatal care and midwifery services.

Katherine Rushfirth, CNM, FACNM, Associate Director, Neighborhood Birth Center

Birth centers are unique and essential facilities that can improve outcomes and families’ experiences, as well as save the health system money and address our maternal care closures. DPH’s new regulations have removed many barriers to opening birth centers.
MassHealth is also now reimbursing Certified Nurse Midwives at the same rate as physicians for the same service, an essential first step for increasing access and sustainability of midwifery services.

Jessie Colbert, Executive Director, Mass. PPD Fund, Coordinator, Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition

We are grateful for DPH’s development of digital resources on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and pregnancy and infant loss, but there must be adequate investment in awareness campaigns on these resources.
Community-based organizations supported through the Moms Matter Act can play a critical role in supporting parents facing PMADs, perinatal Substance Use Disorder, and/or pregnancy and infant loss, providing accessible, culturally congruent care.

Stephanie Crawford, M.Ed. Founder, Propa City Community Outreach

Funding and support help community-based organizations provide emotional and practical care that families can't always get through the traditional medical system.
Community organizations serve families in marginalized communities where support and advocacy is limited. Organizations like Propa City Community Outreach also give families a voice and provide data that can guide more compassionate and empathetic healthcare policies.

Steven Pascal, Director of Newborn Home Visiting, The Children's Trust

Home visiting is a cost-effective service that supports family and child well-being by addressing maternal health and challenges facing families often related to social determinants of health.
In partnership with families, home visitors gather family information to tailor services, support families with direct education and support in the context of a culturally humble, trusting relationship, and make referrals and coordinate services. An increased investment in well-established statewide home visiting programs, like Healthy Families Massachusetts, will also support a more livable wage, increasing workforce stability and decreasing staff turnover.

Maternal Health Champion Honorees

The landmark 2024 Omnibus Maternal Health Law passed the House and Senate with unanimous votes last summer. We are grateful for the support of every legislator who voted in favor, who cosponsored a bill, and who supported their colleagues.

We especially want to recognize legislators who played key roles in shaping and shepherding the phenomenal, game-changing, and life-saving 2024 Omnibus Maternal Health Law. These legislators filed bills that became part of the omnibus, shepherded key legislation through their committees, and served on the conference committee that brought the bill over the finish line. On June 10, 2025, Bay State Birth Coalition and the Mind the Gap Massachusetts Coalition presented Maternal Health Champion awards to each of these 28 Massachusetts state legislators.

Senator Liz Miranda: Lead filer of An Act Relative to Birthing Justice and bills for perinatal mental health, fetal and infant mortality review, and Medicaid coverage of doula care, and the Conference Committee

Representative Marjorie Decker: Lead filer of the Omnibus Maternal Health Bill as Public Health Committee Chair, and bills for postpartum home visiting, breastfeeding care, and Maternal Mortality Review, and member of the Conference Committee

Senator Becca Rausch: Lead filer of An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options; An Act relative to pediatric care appointments

Representative Kay Khan: Lead filer of An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options; An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

Representative Brandy Fluker Reid: Lead filer of bills for access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth, and perinatal mental health

Senator Jo Comerford: Lead filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts

Representative Manny Cruz: Lead filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers in Massachusetts

Senator Brendan Crighton: Lead filer of An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services

Senator Julian Cyr: Public Health Committee Chair

Senator Cindy Friedman: Member of the Conference Committee and filed language expanding postpartum depression screenings

Senator Joan Lovely: Lead filer of bills for postpartum home visiting and paid pregnancy loss leave

Senator Patrick O'Connor: Member of the Conference Committee and lead filer of bill expanding access to human donor milk

Senator John Velis: Advanced perinatal mental health legislation as Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Representative Jamie Zahlaway Belsito: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant programRepresentative Kimberly Ferguson: Conference Committee Member

Representative Carole Fiola: Lead filer of An Act relative to postpartum depression screenings

Representative Sean Garballey: Lead filer of An Act relative to pediatric care appointments

Representative Danielle Gregoire: Lead filer of An Act relative to human donor milk coverage

Representative Pat Haddad: Lead filer of An Act relative to conducting fetal and infant mortality review

Representative Sally Kerans: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program

Representative Meg Kilcoyne: Leadership on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy screening

Representative Michael Kushmerek: Lead filer of An Act establishing a maternal mental health equity grant program

Representative Adrian Madaro: Advanced perinatal mental health legislation as Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Representative Michael Moran: Conference Committee Member

Representative James O'Day: Leadership on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder screening and awareness

Representative Lindsay Sabadosa: Lead filer of bills for pregnancy loss awareness, paid pregnancy loss leave, and Medicaid coverage for doula services

Representative Chynah Tyler: Co-filer of An Act updating the regulations governing licensed birth centers and Lead filer of An Act increasing access to maternal postpartum home visiting services

Representative Chris Worrell: Advocate for maternal health equity including your work on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review