SR 72: | Digital Democracy

WHEREAS, According to research from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), in 2022, 46,000 California women 18 to 44 years of age lived in counties with no hospitals with obstetrics care or birth centers, and an additional 76,000 women lived in counties with only one hospital with obstetrics care or a birth center; and

WHEREAS, Maternal health is a critical aspect of reproductive health care for women, girls, and birthing people of reproductive age, roughly between 15 to 44 years of age. The concept of maternal health includes all phases of reproductive life including before, during, and after pregnancy so that women can be healthy and enjoy healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies for whom they feel prepared and competent to mother; and

WHEREAS, With more women, especially women of color, choosing to wait to have children due to the costs associated with raising a child, a desire to accomplish more for themselves first, the disproportionately larger effects parenthood has on womens lives and careers, the cost of living, and the frightening realities associated with bringing a child into this world, fertility rates have continued to increase among all women 35 years of age and older; and

WHEREAS, According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), waiting can contribute to greater risks and issues with fertility as womens fertility rates begin to decline around 30 years of age. By 45 years of age, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally is extremely low and many choose to seek fertility treatments to help them build their families; and

WHEREAS, The World Health Organization defines fertility rates as the average number of children a hypothetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality. It is expressed as children per woman; and

WHEREAS, On average, a single round of in vitro fertilization treatments, including egg freezing and embryo freezing, cost fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). To address this issue, 21 states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws; and

WHEREAS, California has now joined New York and Illinois in their endeavors by introducing Senate Bill 729 of the 202324 Regular Session, in order to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services, including in vitro fertilization. However, many women and birthing people still have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for these treatments; and

WHEREAS, Despite access to infertility treatments, inequitable treatment outcomes continue to occur; significant racial and ethnic disparities exist, greatly affecting the quality of full-spectrum reproductive care, including infertility evaluation and treatment, that are available for women and birthing people of color in California; and

WHEREAS, According to CHCF research, in California, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with most maternal deaths being preventable; and

WHEREAS, An increasing number of Latinx women around 35 years of age or older are waiting to get pregnant as a result of wanting to break from generational cycles of poverty, societal expectations, and trauma. Research also shows that just under one percent of births to Latinx women resulted from infertility treatment compared to white women who become pregnant through infertility treatments at a rate of three percent; and

WHEREAS, Coverage for the treatment of infertility and fertility services should always be promoted and provided without discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, domestic partner status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, The early identification and equitable treatment of fertility issues are critical components for sustaining and promoting women and birthing peoples health in California; and

WHEREAS, Maternal mental health conditions can occur during pregnancy and up to one year following pregnancy and include depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar illness, psychosis, and substance use disorders; and

WHEREAS, One in five mothers are impacted by mental health conditions, and mental health conditions are the most common complication of pregnancy and birth, affecting 800,000 families each year in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Suicide and overdose are the leading cause of death for women in the first year following pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Seventy five percent of individuals impacted by maternal mental health conditions are left untreated, increasing the risk of long-term negative impacts on mothers, babies, and families; and

WHEREAS, Women of color are three to four times more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth and die from these complications more often than white women; and

WHEREAS, Individuals of color and individuals of low income are more likely to experience maternal mental health conditions and less likely to be able to access care; and

WHEREAS, Women of low socioeconomic status, including income, marital status, employment, and education, are 11 times more likely to develop postpartum depression symptoms than women of higher socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, More than half of infants in low-income households live with a mother experiencing some form of depression; and

WHEREAS, New mothers of color have rates of postpartum depression close to 38 percent, almost twice the rate of white new mothers; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 60 percent of Black and Latinx mothers do not receive any treatment or support services for prenatal and postpartum emotional complications. Reasons include lack of insurance coverage, social and cultural stigma related to mental health needs, logistical barriers to services, and lack of culturally appropriate care; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 30 percent of American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) mothers experience postpartum depression. One study found that postpartum depression in the AI/AN communities is correlated to stressful life events such as financial and housing instability; and

WHEREAS, Postpartum depression is 40 percent greater in Latinx mothers and 80 percent greater in Black mothers living in small cities and rural communities compared to their white counterparts; and

WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islander women face significant challenges in maternal health, particularly in accessing mental health support. Cultural stigmas often discourage seeking therapy or medication until it is a last resort, with many perceiving it as a personal failure. Despite high self-reported risks for postpartum depression, clinical diagnosis rates remain low due to barriers such as stigma, language, and insurance issues. Conflicting cultural values also contribute to feelings of low self-esteem and a reluctance to seek professional help; and

WHEREAS, The role of health service providers and medical professionals is crucial in addressing maternal and mental health early and effectively by encouraging women to receive fertility wellness and mental health checks and educating women on the resources available to them by the state and federal government; and

WHEREAS, The main goal of preconception care is to provide health promotion, screening, and interventions for women and birthing people of reproductive age to reduce risk factors that might affect future pregnancies; and

WHEREAS, The resources available for preconception care are centered through sustaining a healthy body and mind, planning ahead, maintaining healthy relationships and surroundings, and improving access to care; and

WHEREAS, The treatment for maternal mental health conditions are centered through sustaining a healthy body and mind, maintaining healthy relationships and surroundings, and improving access to care, including nutrition, movement, time for oneself, peer and social support, ample uninterrupted sleep, mindfulness, and medication; and

WHEREAS, The need for more cost-effective, comprehensive, and coordinated maternal health resources and care are critical in California in order to improve public and professional awareness of maternal health; and

WHEREAS, It is important to set aside a month that recognizes maternal and mental health in order to support the needs and well-being of women, girls, and birthing people in California; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate hereby recognizes the month of May 2024 as Maternal and Mental Health Awareness Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, According to research from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), in 2022, 46,000 California women 18 to 44 years of age lived in counties with no hospitals with obstetrics care or birth centers, and an additional 76,000 women lived in counties with only one hospital with obstetrics care or a birth center; and

WHEREAS, Maternal health is a critical aspect of reproductive health care for women, girls, and birthing people of reproductive age, roughly between 15 to 44 years of age. The concept of maternal health includes all phases of reproductive life including before, during, and after pregnancy so that women can be healthy and enjoy healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies for whom they feel prepared and competent to mother; and

WHEREAS, With more women, especially women of color, choosing to wait to have children due to the costs associated with raising a child, a desire to accomplish more for themselves first, the disproportionately larger effects parenthood has on womens lives and careers, the cost of living, and the frightening realities associated with bringing a child into this world, fertility rates have continued to increase among all women 35 years of age and older; and

WHEREAS, Waiting According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), waiting can contribute to greater risks and issues with fertility as womens fertility rates begin to decline around 30 years of age. By 45 years of age, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally is extremely low and many choose to seek fertility treatments to help them build their families; and

WHEREAS, The World Health Organization defines fertility rates as the average number of children a hypothetical cohort of women would have at the end of their reproductive period if they were subject during their whole lives to the fertility rates of a given period and if they were not subject to mortality. It is expressed as children per woman; and

WHEREAS, While the World Health Organization and American Medical Association recognizes infertility as a disease, socially and politically, infertility treatments are continually seen as elective and are often not covered by insurance; and

WHEREAS, On average, a single round of in vitro fertilization treatments, including egg freezing and embryo freezing, cost fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). To address this issue, 21 states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws; and

WHEREAS, California has recently joined these efforts with the introduction of now joined New York and Illinois in their endeavors by introducing Senate Bill 729 of the 2023-2024 202324 Regular Session, in order to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility services, including in vitro fertilization. However, many women and birthing people still have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for these treatments; and