DC Council Committee on Health Roundtable on Maternal and Infant Health - July 8, 2026
DC Council Committee on Health Roundtable on Maternal and Infant Health - July 8, 2026
On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 11:35 a.m., the Committee on Health, chaired by At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson, held a public roundtable on the state of maternal and infant health in the District of Columbia. The meeting focused on the mayor's FY27 budget proposal, which included over $3 million in cuts to maternal and early childhood public health initiatives, and the most recent perinatal and infant mortality report from DC Health (2018–2024) showing concerning trends such as increases in severe maternal morbidity, marijuana use in pregnancy, and preterm birth rates. The committee heard from public witnesses, health professionals, and government officials.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Crystal Jackson (Queen Mama Doula Services, Ward 8 Health Council) testified that the Medicaid doula benefit exists but implementation is incomplete, with doulas struggling with enrollment, credentialing, billing, and reimbursement. She urged sustained public investment in community-based implementation organizations rather than temporary grants.
- Leah Caslis (Children's Law Center) noted improvements in some perinatal indicators (decreased teen birth, preterm birth, low birth weight, infant mortality) but highlighted persistent racial and geographic disparities. She stressed the need for consistent, up-to-date data and better doula access for Medicaid beneficiaries, advocating for a centralized hub to support doulas and non-clinical workers.
- Rodrigo Stein (La Clinica del Pueblo) presented findings from a perinatal community health needs assessment showing social and structural barriers (stress, financial insecurity, limited social connection, fear of partners). He reported that pre-pregnancy diabetes among Latina mothers doubled and preterm birth increased 30% from 2019–2023. He urged sustained investments in FQHCs and community health centers.
- Dr. Kate Sugarman (Doctors for Camp Closure) opposed the closure of postpartum unit 5F at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, noting that African American women make up 90% of pregnancy-related deaths despite 50% of births. She called for strengthening the unit and pressuring MedStar to fulfill its charity care obligation (currently 1% vs required 3%).
- Dr. Rochelle Logan (DC Primary Care Association) presented March of Dimes 2025 report card showing DC worsened on every measure. Preterm birth rates: white mothers decreased 10%, Black mothers increased 18%, Latina mothers increased 23%. She urged authorizing community health centers to certify presumptive eligibility for pregnant patients.
- Shanita Edwards (OABI Natural Healing) emphasized the need for a coordinated system east of the river and called for sustained support for Ward 8 Health Council and organizations providing doula care, including for incarcerated mothers.
- Tambra Stevenson (WANDA) argued nutrition is a core maternal health infrastructure, not an add-on. She described a pilot program (Nourish Maternal Food as Medicine) that provided culturally relevant nutrition education to birth workers, and urged DC Health and DHCF to incorporate food as medicine into maternal health strategy.
- Corinne Golston (nurse, Washington Hospital Center) opposed the postpartum unit closure, noting that one in three DC babies are born at WHC, and the unit averages 200–250 deliveries per month. She highlighted the need for space for mothers grieving stillbirths or pregnancy loss.
- Justin Palmer (DC Hospital Association) updated on the DC Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PQC), which has increased adoption of quantified blood loss measurement from 69.8% (Q4 2023) to 92.8% (Q3 2025) and launched Count the Kicks (stillbirth prevention) with 83% engagement growth. The PQC is also implementing a perinatal mental health safety bundle with over 100 participants from 10 organizations.
- Jaren Hill Lockridge (Dreaming Out Loud, Ward 8 Health Council) called maternal mortality a crisis affecting mothers who survive and those afraid to have children. She advocated for maternal food is medicine initiatives east of the river, embedding doula support at Cedar Hill and Children's National.
- Liz O'Donnell (Aelea in Action) discussed stillbirth prevention through Count the Kicks and the need for standardized perinatal bereavement care. She noted her organization provides bereavement packages to almost every DC hospital except Cedar Hill, which she is trying to connect with.
- Nandy Janja (mother, community advocate) shared personal experience with postpartum depression, financial insecurity, and lack of paid leave. She recommended expanded postpartum support to one full year, recognizing dental care as medically necessary, and investing in workforce reentry for postpartum mothers.
- Dr. Lauren Messinger (Mary Center) raised concerns about insurance coverage gaps (Medicaid marked inactive, causing months of missed prenatal care), formulary changes limiting insulin and glucose monitoring supplies, and increased uninsured patients seeking emergency care. She stressed the importance of funding social services.
- Laura Brown (First Shift Justice Project) highlighted employment-related barriers: pregnant workers denied reasonable accommodations or paid leave. She advocated for portable DC paid leave benefits and expanded reach of pregnancy centering programs.
- Amy Sawyer (Sibley Memorial Hospital) described the Maternal Health Access Program (MHAP), which has enrolled over 1,000 patients (38% from Wards 7 & 8, 57% Black, 40% Hispanic). She called for policies incentivizing closed-loop communication between hospitals, FQHCs, and social support organizations.
- Dr. Angela Thomas (MedStar Health) presented Safe Baby Safe Moms data: since 2020, over 53,000 patients served, 16,000 babies delivered. Patients receiving SBSM prenatal care had significantly lower odds of very low birth weight, low birth weight, preterm birth, and severe maternal morbidity compared to those receiving care elsewhere.
- Dr. Tamika Agusti (MedStar Washington Hospital Center) acknowledged the decision to close one of two postpartum units due to declining birth rates but stated services are not changing. She reported that diversion hours have decreased overall, though the hospital is seeing an increase in hypertensive disorders (preeclampsia with severe features) and complex cases.
Discussion Items
- Councilmember Henderson questioned witnesses about doula credentialing challenges, data timeliness, nutrition integration, the postpartum unit closure, and trends in hypertension and preeclampsia.
- Health officials Sarah Beckwith (DC Health) and Melissa Byrd (DHCF) presented data: 43.4% of DC births funded by Medicaid; declines in infant mortality but persistent racial disparities; 24 doula beneficiaries in 2025 (up from 6) but only 43 doulas enrolled and only 4 billing. They outlined initiatives including the Transforming Maternal Health (TeMA) model ($17 million over 10 years), a public awareness campaign (launch October 2026), preterm birth reduction RFA requiring transportation and perinatal navigation, and planned regulations for hospital discharge standards ("Baby's Bill") expected in 2027.
- Committee discussed presumptive eligibility, coverage transitions for pregnant women losing Medicaid, and the need for faster maternal mortality data. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's 2024 report used 2022 data.
Key Outcomes
- No votes were taken; the roundtable was for information gathering.
- Councilmember Henderson noted plans to follow up with DC Health and DHCF on data dashboards, eligibility transitions, doula implementation, and the postpartum unit closure.
- Written testimony will be accepted through Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 5 p.m.
- The committee will reconvene on Monday, July 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. for a joint hearing on rodent abatement legislation.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Good morning. Still morning. I'm calling this public round table to order. Today is Wednesday, July 8th, 2026. We're in room 123 of the John A. Wilson building. The time is 11:35 a.m. I'm at large council member Christina Henderson, Chair of the Committee on Health. Today we're holding a round table on the state of maternal and infant health in the district. The mayor's FY27 budget proposal included over 3 million of cuts to maternal and early childhood public health initiatives and interventions with no new proposed investments or strategies to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. This came even as the most recent perinatal and infant mortality report from the DC Health shows concerning trends for certain key maternal health metrics between 2018 and 2024, including an increase, including increases in severe maternal morbidity rates, marijuana use rates and pregnancy, and preterm birth rates. The district has a substantial role to play in perinatal health, as 43.4% of district births in 2025 were funded through Department of Health Care Finances Medicaid programs or alliance. The Committee on Health held a round table in December of 2023 on maternal and infant health, at which the executive highlighted efforts to improve health outcomes here in the district. Since that round table, the council has also passed several bills and made investments aimed to improve maternal and infant health. Today we will discuss how the executive and the council driven efforts have been rolled out through the district and what additional improvements must be made to meaningfully increase access to pre- and postnatal care. Uh, address the maternal mortality uh rates and ensure healthy outcomes for district residents who are birthing uh children. We will also hear from maternal health professionals, including doula's midwives, OBGYNs, and more about their experience on the ground ensuring safety and health of expecting parents and infants. Uh we haven't been joined by colleagues. Um, although I know some of them are in the building as there are other hearings that are going on, but we'll certainly welcome them if any of them join. We are going to turn to our public witness testimony. All of our public witnesses will have three minutes to testify. You're welcome to submit longer written testimony for the record. Uh, please be conscientious of your time. Uh, I'm gonna call the first uh in-person witnesses, and then we'll go to our virtual folks. So uh Crystal Jackson from a Queen Mommy uh Mama Doula Services, uh Leah Caslis from Children's Law Center, Rodrigo Stein, ah, there he is, uh, from La Clinica de Pueblo, and Dr. Kate Sugarman from Doctors for Camp Closure. Miss Jackson, when you're ready. Oh, you can. Good morning, Chair Person Henderson and members of the Committee on Health. Since first testifying before this committee in 2023, I've gone from identifying barriers in the Medicaid DULA benefit to helping implement it as a Medicaid provider and the district's doula equity consultant. There are four things I hope you remember today. One, the Medicaid dual benefit exists, but implementation is incomplete. There are challenges at every step that have not been corrected systemically since the benefit was released. Dual is continue to struggle with enrollment, credentialing, billing, and reimbursement. Two, uh, community-based organizations have been doing the implementation work through the Doula Learning and Action Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Group grown from the Ward 8 Health Council's Maternal Health Working Group. Approximately 60 doulas have been supported with technical assistance, peer learning, and systems navigation. This work has been funded through short-term grants rather than sustained public investment. Three, um, the Medicaid Doula Implementation Infrastructure is a maternal health investment. Creating a benefit was only the first step. If the district wants the Medicaid dual benefit to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, it must invest in the organizations that help providers successfully participate in the program. Three, nope, four. Um, I urge the council to invest in community-based DULA-led implementation organizations that have demonstrated the ability to build and sustain this workforce. We should not rely on temporary grants to support an essential part of the district's maternal health strategy. Policies are designed in government, but they succeed or fail in community. Don't forget your doulas in implementation. I'm submitting more detailed written testimony describing my experiences and expertise. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I am Crystal Jackson, a member of the Ward 8 Health Council and co-chair of the Maternal Health Working Group, a DC Medicaid Doula provider, and the district's doula equity consultant, meaning I work at the intersections of Maternal Health, Workforce Development, and Medicaid Systems Transformation. Thank you.
openpublica.com