ATLANTA (February 4, 2014) | The Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 273 today by a vote of 51-1. Sponsored by Sen. Dean Burke (R—Bainbridge), this legislation requires the Department of Public Health to establish a Maternal Mortality Review Committee for the purposes of reviewing and developing strategies to prevent maternal deaths in Georgia.
“I am glad the Senate acknowledged the importance of investigating Georgia’s maternal mortality rates,” said Sen. Burke. “Unfortunately, Georgia has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the United States. It is crucial to form this committee in order to better understand this issue and to provide for the safety of women statewide. Maternal deaths are a serious public health concern and have a tremendous family and societal impact.”
As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, maternal mortality revolves around the death of a woman while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy termination. In Georgia, maternal deaths have been inadequately documented in the past, therefore preventing efforts to identify and reduce or eliminate the causes of death.
The information collected by the committee will remain confidential, except for the narrow purpose of review by the Committee. Reports will be distributed to the General Assembly, health care providers and facilities, key government agencies and others necessary to reduce the maternal death rate.
Senate Bill 273 will now travel to the House of Representatives for consideration.
For Immediate Release:
February 4, 2014
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Emily Williams, Communications Associate
Emily.williams@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028