Establishes the cesarean births review board

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic22

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

The rate of cesarean birth in this state, and in this country, is not nearly spoken about enough. Since the 1970s, the national rate of cesa- rean births has increased by 500% which translates to about 1 in 3 babies delivered via C-section presently, compared to just 1 in 20 babies in the mid-1970s. Despite this growing trend, research demon- strates there is no evidence that cesarean births provide any benefit to the mother or newborn when the procedure is not required, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Currently, New York ranks 12th in the nation, where approximately 33% of all deliveries in the state are cesarean. New York's cesarean birth rate greatly exceeds the World Health Organization's and CDC's ideal rate which is between 10 and 15 percent. While the state average is around 33%, it is important to note that cesarean birth rates vary greatly across hospitals, ranging between 7% and 70% depending on what hospital a birthing person goes to. Further, studies have found that cesarean birth rates in hospitals are directly linked to higher maternal death rates and higher costs for healthcare. The increase in cesarean rates in the U.S. is linked to an increase in maternal deaths overall as the procedure can lead to neona- tal respiratory problems and maternal complications. In fact, cesareans can account for three of the top six leading causes of maternal mortali- ty-hemorrhage, complications of anesthesia, and infection. Many of these maternal deaths are preventable given WHO's recommended rate of cesarean deliveries. Additionally, there is an alarming disparity in cesarean birth rates among different birthing populations. Minority (non-Hispanic black, Hispanic/Latina, Indigenous, and low socio-economic status) birthing people receive cesareans at a significantly higher rate than non-Hispan- ic white birthing people, which is also an indicator of low-quality maternity care. Moreover, black birthing people are more likely to receive a cesarean overall and importantly, they are also more likely to undergo repeated cesareans compared to other birthing people, which further increases the risk of mortality. In fact, in the U.S., black birthing people die from pregnancy-related causes at higher rates and have a four times greater risk of maternal death, more than any other racial or ethnic group. This bill would require the advisory council on maternal mortality and morbidity to undertake a review of the cesarean births at hospitals, in the state. The council will issue a final report and make recommenda- tions related to the impact cesarean births have on birthing people and best practices that can be implemented regarding the rate of cesarean births and improve overall maternal health in the state.

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.