Maternal Mortality Reports and Updates

Maternal Mortality Issue Briefs

The New York State (NYS) Maternal Mortality Review Board (MMRB) is releasing a series of issue briefs that are designed to offer multi-disciplinary providers an in-depth examination of key recommendations from the comprehensive review of pregnancy-associated deaths in NYS.

Maternal Mortality Factsheets

Maternal Mortality Review (MMR) factsheets provide a snapshot of major findings.

Maternal Mortality Review Reports

These statewide reports are designed to share findings and recommendations from the comprehensive review of pregnancy-associated deaths in NYS.

Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council

This Council reviews information about maternal mortality and morbidity and makes recommendations that support people who are pregnant, giving birth, and in the postpartum period by identifying disparities and gaps in care and sharing ways to address systemic racism and its devastating impacts on Black maternal health.

Taskforce Reports

Taskforce on Maternal Mortality and Disparate Racial Outcomes

New York State’s Taskforce on Maternal Mortality and Disparate Racial Outcomes is a comprehensive initiative to target maternal mortality and reduce racial disparities in health outcomes. The Taskforce released a report in 2019 that details ten recommendations advanced by the Taskforce, including efforts to review and better address maternal death and morbidity with a focus on racial disparities, expanding community outreach, and taking new actions to increase access to prenatal and perinatal care.

New York State Expert Panel on Postpartum Care

As a result of the recommendations put forward by the NYS Taskforce on Maternal Mortality and Disparate Racial Outcomes, the NYS Expert Panel on Postpartum care was convened to identify issues impacting postpartum outcomes. The Panel released a report in 2021 that details four recommendations designed to improve the experience of care and outcomes for birthing people across New York State, especially during the postpartum period.

Commissioner Listening Sessions

In 2019, NYSDOH partnered with community activists to hold listening sessions across the state to hear local concerns regarding pre- and post-natal healthcare. Stakeholders, including people who are pregnant, persons who recently gave birth, and individuals disproportionately impacted by adverse maternal health outcomes were engaged to share the barriers they face that make it difficult to obtain routine prenatal care, as well as discuss strategies to increase awareness of urgent maternal warning signs that may signal a complication in pregnancy or postpartum, and other causes of maternal mortality and morbidity.