Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Convenes Third Hearing to Examine Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Cook County

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller Convenes Third Hearing to Examine Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Rates in Cook County

 

Health and Hospitals Committee hearing featured testimony from elected officials, health care providers, advocates and others to address Illinois’ high maternal morbidity and mortality rates

 

Cook County, IL -- Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller convened a hearing of the Cook County Board’s Health and Hospitals Committee to hear from stakeholders about ways Illinois can better protect women during and after pregnancy and childbirth. In June 2023, Commissioner Miller held the first hearing on the topic after reports showed that in 2020, Illinois had a maternal mortality rate of 23 deaths per 100,000 live births, and for Black women, that rate was six times higher — surpassing the national average. Although the Illinois Department of Public Health noted an improvement in 2024, with Black women being three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions than white women, the disparity remains alarming.


“The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world, and in Illinois our rates mirror the national average. We cannot continue to accept these preventable deaths as the norm, and that’s why I sponsored legislation to declare maternal morbidity and mortality a public health crisis and convened a third maternal health hearing to discuss ways we can stop these preventable deaths from happening, we need to keep ringing the alarm” said Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller. “I want to thank everyone who testified today and are dedicated to addressing maternal mortality in our county and state. Together, we can continue to make progress towards creating positive outcomes for Illinois families.”


During the hearing, the committee heard testimony from Dr. Lisa Masinter, IDPH’s Deputy Director of the Office of Women’s Health and Family Services, Dr. Erica Taylor, Cook County Physicians Association President, Ms. Persephone Ross, who is a doula from the Cook County Healths Doula Program, President Dara Cohen, CEO of Family Focus, as well as additional representatives from Cook County Health, the Cook County Department of Public Health, CountyCare and other outside experts on the maternal health crisis. A highlight was testimony on the recently launched Cook County Health Doula Program, funded with $1 million secured by Commissioner Miller in the FY2024 budget.


Commissioner Miller’s commitment to reducing maternal mortality is rooted in her healthcare industry experience and her focus on health care disparities affecting Black women. Her efforts extend beyond Illinois, as she has passed national legislation to support doula funding and increased funding for uterine fibroid education, research, and treatment through the National Association of Counties (NACo). As the U.S. grapples with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, Commissioner Miller’s leadership and dedication offer hope for positive change in Illinois and beyond.


Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Quandra-Urban Market Exchange