2023 -- H 5241
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LC001040
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2023, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENE SS DAY"
IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Tanzi, Kennedy, Fellela, Ajello, and Azzinaro
Date Introduced: January 26, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Maternal health is integral to the health of our State, communities and 1
families; and 2
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more 3
than 80 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and severe maternal 4
morbidity regarding pregnancy-related complications lead to major short or long-term health 5
consequences; and 6
WHEREAS, The rate of severe maternal morbidity among Rhode Island women 7
delivering in hospitals is consistently higher than the national rate; and 8
WHEREAS, All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely 9
prenatal services across the healthcare continuum, and reducing prenatal health inequities through 10
policy and systems change can help improve opportunities for every Rhode Islander; and 11
WHEREAS, To combat the maternal mortality rate, the State of Rhode Island has 12
engaged in ongoing efforts to systematically collect and comprehensively review maternal deaths 13
through the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee; and 14
WHEREAS, More than one in four Rhode Island pregnant people have delivered a baby 15
by a preventable cesarean delivery; and 16
WHEREAS, Maternal substance use is increasing, with nearly one in four Rhode Island 17
pregnant people reporting substance use at any time, just before, during, or after their pregnancy; 18
and 19
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WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is collaborating with community organizations, 1
hospital and health systems and clinical collaborations including the Perinatal Neonatal Quality 2
Collaborative (PNQC) of Rhode Island, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) of 3
Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Prematurity task Force to reduce maternal mortality and severe 4
morbidity through collaboration and implementation of evidence-based initiatives; and 5
WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health and well-6
being of pregnant people by continuing public awareness and understanding of health risks and 7
factors that contribute to maternal death, to improving public and professional awareness of the 8
issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promoting the various efforts to reduce 9
maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities; now, therefore be it 10
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 11
proclaims January 23, 2023, to be “Maternal Health Awareness Day” in the State of Rhode 12
Island; and be it further 13
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 14
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Robert P. Dulski, Director of Advocacy, 15
Rhode Island Medical Society. 16
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LC001040
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