Expert: US Needs Multidisciplinary Teams
OBGYN expert Dr. Naomi Whittaker is calling for multidisciplinary front-line teams to address the U.S. maternal health crisis. She argues these teams are essential to bridge gaps between clinical experience and research across the full spectrum of care, from preconception to postpartum.
The U.S. maternal mortality rate stood at 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, with stark racial disparities. The rate for Black, non-Hispanic women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 births, a figure nearly 3.5 times that of white, non-Hispanic women (14.5). Provisional data from the CDC indicated a slight rise to 19.0 deaths per 100,000 live births by December 2024. In Virginia, the pregnancy-associated death rate was 70.1 per 100,000 live births in 2022, an increase from 66.9 in 2021. The state has seen a 25% reduction in the number of birthing hospitals since 2012, which correlates with increased travel distances and higher rates of severe maternal morbidity. Multidisciplinary teams—comprising obstetricians, midwives, nurses, and mental health professionals—are seen as a crucial strategy to provide holistic care. This collaborative approach aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce adverse events by integrating diverse expertise and ensuring comprehensive assessment of both physical and psychological health. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) are central to these teams, offering a model of care associated with fewer cesarean sections, lower preterm birth rates, and higher rates of breastfeeding. Midwifery-led care is also linked to improved mental health outcomes for mothers and lower rates of low birth weight for infants. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) establishes clinical practice standards and advocates for the profession to be the standard of care for women. Recent legislative action in Virginia aims to bolster the midwifery workforce. In May 2025, Governor Youngkin signed House Bill 1923, mandating insurance reimbursement parity for Licensed Certified Midwives and Licensed Midwives with their Certified Nurse Midwife colleagues for the same services. This move is intended to address provider shortages and improve maternal health access, especially in underserved areas. Advocacy groups like Voices for Virginia's Children have pushed for improved access to community doula and midwifery services to counter high maternal mortality rates among women of color and those in rural areas. Virginia has also extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, a critical step since about a third of pregnancy-associated deaths in the state occur between 43 and 365 days after pregnancy ends.
