Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation to expand access to OB/GYN services across Michigan.

Between 2018 and 2022, about 19 mothers per 100,000 live births in Michigan died from pregnancy-related issues, mostly in marginalized communities. New legislation aims to expand maternal and prenatal care. State Representative Julie Rogers, a former health policy chair, sponsored several bills in the package, including one that reduces government red tape for breast milk donors.

“That required HIV testing for breast milk donors every 90 days, and to contrast that with the rest of the United States, we’re the only state that requires that,” Rogers said. “49 other states do a one-and-done test at the onset of donation.”

Data from 2022 shows white mothers having the highest number of maternal transfusions, followed by Black mothers.

Rogers says the legislation expands access to postpartum mental health screenings. She also points out most bills in the package received strong bipartisan support in the state legislature.