Student Presenter(s): Elizabeth Rose
Faculty Mentor: Joerg Leheste
School/College: Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury

At present, the U.S. is in a state of crisis regarding maternal mortality (death in pregnancy, during childbirth, or postpartum). From the years 2000 to 2014, maternal mortality doubled from 9.8 per 100,000 live births to 21.5 per 100,000, followed by a slight improvement by 2019 to 17 per 100,000. When stratified by race, the situation further deteriorates, with black women being 3–4 times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes than white women. This discrepancy has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling, both of which have put disproportionate weight on minorities and those of low socioeconomic status. Preliminary data indicates that maternal death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic were 62% higher and increased nearly twice as fast in states with restrictive abortion policies compared to those with more accessible abortion services. These findings underscore the importance of reproductive healthcare access and highlight the potential negative consequences of restrictive abortion policies. The main objective of this analytical health policy research project is to examine the causes of increasing maternal mortality rates in the US and explore the potential of using Federally Qualified Health Centers to increase accessibility to care. The secondary objective is to monitor and analyze efforts by the new 118th U.S. Congress that could affect the current situation.