Advocates urge Connecticut to adopt hospital report cards, doula supports and a perinatal mental-health task force

Allison Logan, cofounder of the CT 359 network, urged the Public Health Committee to support House Bill 7214, saying Connecticut needs systemic measures to reduce racial disparities and preventable maternal deaths.

"These disparities are unacceptable and highlight the urgent need for systemic changes in maternal health care in our state," Logan said, citing a CT 359 policy advisory and data showing non-Hispanic Black parents experienced a higher rate of severe maternal mortality between February 2018 and February 2020.

Logan and other witnesses identified several bill provisions they described as essential: establishment of a hospital "report card" to measure perinatal outcomes and require improvement plans for low-performing facilities; creation of an advisory committee to study and promote doulas in hospital settings; and formation of a task force to study perinatal mental health care. Logan said those elements would help make care more equitable and reduce preventable deaths.

Obstetrician and longtime clinician Yvette Martis, chair of the Hispanic Health Council board of directors and a Connecticut resident, gave a clinical example to illustrate the stakes. She recounted a patient identified as "JF," a 33-year-old Afro-Latina who presented multiple times with headaches, abdominal pain and borderline elevated blood pressure at 29 weeks' gestation and was sent home twice. Two days later the patient seized, was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and placental abruption, and underwent an emergency cesarean delivery. Her newborn required life support and died in the neonatal intensive care unit 30 days later.

"When there is a breakdown in this process, we ultimately arrive at the preventable component of poor outcomes," Martis said, arguing HB 7214 would create mechanisms for listening to patients and improving hospital responses to warning signs.

Eleanor Faraguna, a doula student who described work with women of color in Connecticut, told the committee that maternal mortality is on the rise and that many deaths are preventable. "Please remember your humanity and the humanity of those who will be impacted by this and vote to support House Bill 7214," she said.

Rosanna Ferrara and Liz Gustafson also testified in support, calling for transparency and accountability and for measures that would allow midwives, doulas and perinatal professionals to work together to improve outcomes.

Committee members asked few procedural questions during the testimony. No committee vote or final action on HB 7214 was recorded at the hearing.