Very shortly after my maternal “near miss” in 2016, the Washington State Legislature funded a Maternal Mortality Review Panel to take a closer look at maternal deaths in our state. The work was only funded through June of 2020. This year, SB 5425 proposes to make the Maternal Mortality Review Panel permanent and make some other small changes to the work.

The state’s first maternal mortality review report was released in July 2017, identifying 16 pregnancy-related deaths (within 42 days of delivery) between 2014-2015. While Washington State has not experienced the increases in maternal mortality that are occurring nationally, we are experiencing similar trends in disparities, especially among black and Native American women. A new report is expected later this year.

In addition to continuing the work of the Maternal Mortality Review Panel, the current legislation adds as potential participants: a tribal representative and individuals or organizations that represent the populations most affected by pregnancy-related deaths or pregnancy-associated deaths and lack access to maternal health services. The last part was added upon my suggestion to make our state’s work consistent with the recently passed federal Preventing Maternal Deaths Act. Expanding the composition of the committee beyond the provider community by adding consumer voices is important to understanding the full breadth of issues leading to maternal deaths.

The bill also addresses data sharing agreements, reporting and autopsies. It would also change the frequency of the reports from every two years to every three years, beginning in October 2019. A “null and void” clause was added to the bill when it passed House Appropriations rendering the bill null and void if funding is not appropriated by the end of the current fiscal year. The funding request of $344,000 to support this work has been included in legislative budget proposals. The additional funding is needed to appropriately fund the work and allow the Department of Health to conduct the needed data analyses, staff the committee and initiate implementation of recommendations.

I testified on this bill (and its companion) on many occasions this legislative session as a private citizen and NoHLA volunteer. Sharing about my severe maternal morbidity experience is relevant because I would have died without the actions of my delivering physician and the appropriate systems being in place at the hospital. They were prepared and able to keep me alive. Investigating and understanding maternal deaths results in system improvements that keep more mothers alive to raise their new babies. I’m hoping to see this bill cross the finish line and be signed by Governor Inslee in the coming weeks.

–Molly Firth, NoHLA Volunteer