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The comprehensive Momnibus bill package aims to reduce racial inequities in maternal care and improve outcomes for Michigan mothers and babies.
Michigan Senators Reintroduce Momnibus Bill Package on Maternal Health Awareness Day
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Senate Democrats reintroduced the Momnibus bill package on National Maternal Health Awareness Day to address persistent racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health care. The legislation, initially introduced last spring, includes Senate Bills 29-39 and emphasizes equitable, inclusive care designed by and for women of color.
“The reintroduction of the Momnibus represents a critical step toward making maternal health care in Michigan safer, more equitable, and inclusive,” said Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), the lead sponsor. “By addressing racial disparities and prioritizing humanized care, we aim to ensure every family has the opportunity for a healthy, joyful pregnancy and childbirth.”
Alarming Disparities Drive Action
The Momnibus package addresses alarming statistics on maternal and infant mortality in Michigan, particularly in Black communities. According to Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Black infants in Detroit are four times more likely to die than their white counterparts.
“Michigan families deserve safe, empowering birthing experiences,” said Cavanagh. “This package confronts the unacceptable disparities that result in preventable complications and deaths for mothers and babies.”
Key Provisions of the Momnibus Bill Package
The 11 bills in the package offer targeted solutions to improve maternal health through equity-focused policies, data collection, and expanded care options:
- Senate Bill 29 (Geiss): Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to report on biased perinatal care, including instances of racism or obstetric violence, and strengthens the Maternal Mortality Review Team.
- Senate Bill 30 (Geiss): Creates a patient tool for self-reporting obstetric racism under the Biased and Unjust Care Reporting Act.
- Senate Bill 31 (Cavanagh): Mandates hospitals to allow patients to bring companions like doulas during labor.
- Senate Bill 32 (Cavanagh): Directs DHHS to review medical malpractice insurers’ policies on perinatal care.
- Senate Bill 33 (Anthony): Ensures pregnancy status does not impact a designated advocate’s authority to make medical decisions.
- Senate Bill 34 (Chang): Adds pregnancy and lactation protections to Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
- Senate Bills 35-39: Expand Medicaid and private insurance coverage for midwifery and perinatal services, ensure safe care plans for substance-affected infants, and facilitate remote maternal health services.
A Community-Driven Approach
The Momnibus builds on community-driven programs with support from maternal health advocates. Cassy Jones-McBryde, Founder of the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice, praised the legislation’s comprehensive approach.
“These bills reflect bipartisan commitment to dignity and agency in childbirth,” she said.
Licensed midwife Nicole White, co-founder of Birth Detroit, emphasized the bills’ role in increasing access to midwifery care and affirming the dignity of all birthing families, regardless of location.
“Birth is bipartisan. Birth unites us,” White stated.
Broader Context and Legislative Prospects
The Momnibus package arrives during a renewed national focus on maternal health disparities. Black mothers in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers, according to the CDC.
The Momnibus package, which has bipartisan support, aims to address maternal health disparities and increase access to midwifery care. The bills highlight the importance of affirming the dignity of all birthing families, regardless of where they are located. With black mothers in the U.S. being three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers, the Momnibus package arrives during a crucial time of renewed national focus on maternal health disparities. The upcoming legislative session in Michigan provides an opportunity for the swift advancement of the Momnibus bills.
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