Virginia to Analyze Gaps in Maternal Care

The analysis comes as Virginia grapples with a maternal mortality rate that saw a 130% increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the state's rate was 50.1 deaths per 100,000 births, significantly higher than the national average of 33 deaths per 100,000 births that year. While overall maternal death rates in Virginia have been decreasing since their 2021 peak, significant racial disparities persist. Black women in Virginia experience maternal mortality rates more than double those of non-Hispanic white women. This disparity is also reflected in infant mortality, with 9.9 out of every 1,000 Black infants dying before their first birthday, compared to 4.8 white infants. The Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Team's 2024 report noted that the Central Health Services Area had the highest pregnancy-associated death rate in 2022, at 96.7 per 100,000 live births. Access to care is a major contributing factor, with 31% of Virginia's counties classified as "maternity care deserts" by the March of Dimes. This lack of access is exacerbated by a 25% reduction in the number of birthing hospitals in the state since 2012, leading to increased travel times for expectant mothers which correlates with higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and preterm births. The Virginia Family First Prevention Plan, which the new analysis will inform, is part of a national initiative to provide more in-home, evidence-based services for mental health, substance use, and parenting skills to prevent children from entering foster care. It allows for federal Title IV-E funds to be used for these preventative services for up to 12 months for eligible families. Recent legislative changes aim to improve the landscape for midwifery care in the state. A 2025 law, HB 1923, ensures insurance reimbursement parity for Licensed Certified Midwives and Licensed Midwives, aligning their pay with that of Certified Nurse Midwives for the same services. Another new law allows certified nurse midwives to provide newborn care in hospitals without a pediatrician immediately available, a move intended to help keep rural labor and delivery units open. Professional organizations are actively involved in shaping policy and supporting the midwifery workforce. The Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) provides legislative advocacy, continuing education, and promotes the midwifery model of care. Advocacy groups like Virginia Families for Access to Midwifery also work to expand access to care. Technological innovations are also being leveraged to bridge care gaps. Digital health platforms like Babyscripts offer virtual maternity care and remote monitoring. In Southwest Virginia, portable, AI-powered colposcopy tools are being used in mobile clinics to improve cervical cancer screening access. Additionally, a telehealth listening project by Birth in Color explored the potential of virtual care to improve access to reproductive healthcare in underserved regions.