This story was reported and written by our media partner the Virginia Mercury.
Virginia lawmakers are gearing up for a renewed push to tackle maternal health disparities in the 2025 session, with a slate of bills and budget amendments focused on improving outcomes for parents across the state.
A key proposal is a bipartisan effort to mandate unconscious bias training for nursing license renewals, which previously passed the legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Lawmakers say that targeted training is critical in addressing preventable deaths and complications during childbirth, marking it as a vital step in the broader push for maternal health reform.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals a stark disparity in maternal health: Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Research also highlights that women of color often face worse health outcomes, partly due to racial bias in healthcare settings.
House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, emphasized the urgency of addressing these inequities, stating that the proposed legislation aims to tackle the “broken systems and lack of resources” contributing to poor maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black parents.
The “momnibus” package — a play on the term omnibus — also includes proposals to enhance healthcare monitoring and expanded Medicaid coverage to improve maternal health outcomes.
One key initiative by Del. Amy Laufer, D-Charlottesville, seeks to pilot remote monitoring for conditions like hypertension and diabetes. This approach is designed to assist expectant parents, particularly those in rural areas with limited access to hospitals or healthcare providers, by ensuring their conditions are closely monitored during pregnancy.
About 30% of Virginia counties lack a birthing center within a 30-minute drive, according to the March of Dimes, a non-profit that works to enhance the health of mothers and babies. In Southwest and Southside Virginia, recent years have seen the closure of several obstetrics units However, the latest state budget includes funding to support OB-GYN residencies in hospitals, aiming to bolster care in underserved areas.
The momnibus package also includes proposals to expand Medicaid coverage to include diapers and limited baby supplies, as well as legislation to establish a women’s health commission focused on developing targeted maternal health policies.
Lawmakers and maternal health experts first previewed the momnibus package during a Black Maternal Health Summit in Richmond in October, where public health professionals and legislators from around the country gathered to collaborate on solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, on Monday expressed optimism about bipartisan support for the upcoming maternal health proposals, noting that Republicans have previously supported and even co-sponsored some Democrat-led maternal health initiatives.
“We’re hoping that when these bills get before them, they will continue that support,” Mundon King said.