GA SR924

Georgia Senate recognizes Black maternal health disparities, noting Black women in Georgia are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than non-Hispanic white women

U.S. has 700-900 pregnancy-related deaths annually with 50,000 severe complications; CDC estimates 80% of these deaths are preventable, and four in five pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia are preventable

Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S. at almost twice the national rate, with 93 of 109 rural counties lacking hospital labor and delivery units and 75 lacking an OB/GYN as of 2019

34.6% of Georgia counties are classified as maternity care deserts; chronic health conditions including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes disproportionately affect Black women in Georgia

Acknowledges that Medicaid coverage for doula care is linked to improved outcomes, with doula-assisted mothers four times less likely to have low birthweight babies and two times less likely to experience birth complications