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State officials outline maternal‑health investments and debates over metrics and access
Summary
Department of Health and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs told the House Appropriations Committee the governor's FY26–27 budget increases maternal‑health investments, including $8 million for pregnancy support and proposed funding for child‑death review; lawmakers pressed differences between Pennsylvania's broader "pregnancy‑associated" mortality metric and federal definitions and pressed plans to address 23 counties labeled maternal care deserts.
Secretary Bogan and Dr. Letika Davis Jones told the House Appropriations Committee that the administration's FY26–27 budget includes new and ongoing investments aimed at reducing maternal mortality and improving maternal care access across Pennsylvania.
"This budget supports the health of Pennsylvanians with funding to continue improving outcomes for mothers, children, and families," Secretary Bogan said, listing investments in regional maternal health coalitions, EMS support and a maternal health strategic plan. Dr. Davis Jones added that DDAAP has more than $8,000,000 in the upcoming budget slated to support pregnant women and families and that recovery and prevention services are being expanded in communities that need them.
Lawmakers pressed officials on recent maternal mortality reporting. Representative Nelson said the department's report uses a broader "pregnancy‑associated" definition that counts deaths up to one year postpartum and includes overdoses, suicides and other causes that the CDC typically excludes from a pregnancy‑related metric confined to 42 days. "Why doesn't your report mention this difference?" Nelson asked. Secretary Bogan acknowledged the distinction and said Pennsylvania reports both pregnancy‑related and pregnancy‑associated figures and uses the longer window to inform prevention across a broader set of causes.
Members also highlighted access gaps. Representative Curry told the panel that 23 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties lack a hospital that provides labor and delivery services and asked what the department is doing to address "maternal care deserts." Secretary Bogan pointed to the maternal health strategic plan, rural health transformation funding that can be targeted at maternal services, support for mobile units, doula training and expanded screening for hypertension and mental health in pregnancy and the postpartum year.
Officials described recent and planned program activity: regional maternal health coalitions have been funded to implement recommendations from the maternal mortality review committee; pilot programs have funded workforce training and quality investments; and the department is rolling out RFPs for recently appropriated grants tied to maternal health initiatives. Bogan said the department would continue cross‑agency work and track outcomes, and that changes in mortality will take time to appear in official statistics.
The committee did not vote on legislation in this hearing. Lawmakers asked the department to provide additional data on how unspent or rolling grant funds were allocated and requested follow‑up briefings to ensure rural maternal health initiatives and maternal care access zones are resourced.
