Relates to review of projects affecting the availability of maternity services

• Democratic39
• Republican5

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Lea Webb says this is needed

The United States is experiencing a growing maternal health crisis, a recent study showed WOternai dea hs4have monesthan dpuble0 over 20 years for every raeiaitgl.ou0 in,every ;tpte'but coptidue to 44spror portion- ately impact Black women when compared to their white counterparts.(1) Our state is not an exception to this alarming reality, in 2018 the pregnancy-related mortality ratio in New York was 18.2 per 100,000 live births, and 78% of those deaths were preventable according to a report by the New York State Department of Health.(2) The report showed the pregnancy related mortality rate for Black women was five times higher than White women in 2018, highlighting the ongoing racial disparity in New York.(3) Access to quality maternity care is essential to preventing adverse health outcomes related to pregnancy and eliminating health disparities. Unfortunately, maternal health will only further decline as delivery units continue to shut down across the country, particularly in rural areas where at least 89 obstetric units were closed between 2015 and 2019 according to the American Hospital Association.(4) Ongoing closures intensify the already inequitable access to maternity care we see nationally and in our home state. Since 2008, 28 hospitals across the state have closed or reduced obstetric care.(5) Moreover, as of 2022, more than four percent of women in New York did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of their homes; this problem is more acute in rural areas across the state where over 47% of women lived more than 30 minutes from a birthing center.(6) Hospitals are obligated by law to submit a Certificate of Need for the establishment, construction, renovation, acquisitions of major medical equipment, adding or removing services, and change of ownership for approval by the Department of Health and/or PHHPC, depending on the type of review required by regulation. However, there is no requirement that major changes to maternity care undergo a full review before the PHHPC. Thus, significant changes in availability of labor and delivery services in a community can be advanced with limited community input or PHHPC oversight and engagement. In June 2023, St. Peter's Health Partners announced plans to close Troy's Burdett Birth Center, the only birthing facility left in Rensse- laer County, New York and one of the only providers of low-intervention, midwifery led birth care in the Capital Region.(7) In 2022, there were 881 births at Burdett, and more than half of the patients are insured by Medicaid.(8) Eliminating an access point to quality maternity care will further deepen the already unacceptable health disparities we see in this state related to maternal health outcomes. St. Peter's provided notice of intended closure just prior to the effective date of a new law that requires a health equity impact assessment be done on Certificate of Need Applications. Ultimately, St. Peters agreed to conduct an assessment after intense criticism from the local community.(9) In addition to completing a health equity impact assessment, general hospitals should also be required to undergo a full review when seeking to close maternity services. This proposed legislation would stipulate a process for PHHPC to oversee the provision of perinatal services. The reality is that closure of maternity units will have an impact on not only patients but also other components of the healthcare system. The PHHPC is a diverse council that represents the provider, labor, and patient community and therefore is well positioned to weigh in on impacts of discontinuation of services. It is essential that communities across the state maintain access to quality perinatal care services, and that attempts to reduce access through a closure of services is trans- parent and has strong oversight to protect and advance the health and wellbeing of those impacted.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.