A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
From the moment we discover a baby is on its way, a flood of thoughts rushes in.
Anticipation. Joy. Fear.
What will my baby be like?
What if I’m not good at this?
And the very real thought: What if something goes wrong?
All Michigan parents and babies deserve high-quality healthcare, and policymakers play a big role in removing the barriers to access that continue to plague our state’s maternal and perinatal health systems. With precious lives at risk, we here at the Michigan League for Public Policy are proud to stand beside many partners and community members across the state in support of the Michigan Momnibus bill package (SB 818-827) and birth center bill (HB 5636) introduced earlier this year in the Michigan Legislature.
According to the Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance Program, approximately 80 to 90 maternal deaths occur in Michigan each year and nearly 64% of pregnancy-related maternal deaths are preventable. Sadly, stark racial disparities come to light when you look closer at the most recent state data, which shows that both American Indian/Alaska Native and Black pregnancy-associated maternal mortality rates were nearly two times higher than white pregnancy-associated maternal mortality rates from 2016-2020. Place-based factors have also played a role in pregnancy-associated maternal mortality rates, with the highest rates seen in the Upper Peninsula, Northeast, East Central, East Michigan and Detroit Metro prosperity regions from 2016-2020.
Furthermore, while we recently reported that infant mortality has declined in Michigan, there are still a considerable number of infant deaths in our state. In fact, according to our latest Kids Count in Michigan statewide data, the most recent three-year average (2020-2022) of infant deaths in Michigan was 671.
Taken together, this data underscores why the Michigan Momnibus is so critically important. It aims to address systemic racism and other social determinants of health within Michigan’s maternal and perinatal health systems through a comprehensive, multifaceted approach.
Among the policy solutions included in the 10-bill package, the Michigan Momnibus would require the use of the Patient-reported Experience Measure of Obstetric Racism (PREM-OB) Scale or a similar tool to help measure the experiences of pregnant or postpartum individuals of color receiving care in our state and identify instances of obstetrics violence or racism. It would also require state departments to regularly report on the best methods to address racial and ethnic disparities and improve patient care within the field, while also preventing discrimination based on pregnancy or lactating status.
Other key parts of the Michigan Momnibus and the associated birth center bill are the licensing of freestanding birth centers, an amendment to the Public Health Code to allow midwives to participate in our state’s health provider loan repayment program and equitable reimbursement by insurance providers of licensed Michigan midwives in all settings (including birth centers and home births)—all of which would improve access to healthcare across our state.
Michigan is one of only nine states that does not license birth centers, which are facilities where midwives provide prenatal, birth and postpartum care. Birth centers serve as an alternative to giving birth in a hospital for low-risk pregnancies and they are often less expensive for families, but because they can’t currently get licensed in Michigan, the midwives working in these centers do not receive Medicaid reimbursement for the care they provide.
By removing the barriers currently preventing licensure for these centers, they could potentially be expanded to more rural areas—including several of the regions with the highest maternal mortality rates in the state—where a shortage of nearby hospitals may be resulting in access-to-care challenges for pregnant individuals. In fact, part of the impetus for introducing the birth center bill was the fact that 30% of Michigan’s counties are rural and that maternity care deserts exist all over the state. In addition to improving accessibility to care, birth centers are also known to help advance racial justice as they often offer more culturally responsive care to communities of color.
Additionally, by better supporting midwifery and the recruitment of more midwives in the state, Michigan can help meet the growing demand for the valuable services they provide and help meet the needs of Michigan families with lower incomes who are more likely to rely on these services since they are more cost-effective. It’s also important to note that the World Health Organization has recognized midwifery as a solution for lowering maternal mortality rates across the globe.
Right now, the Michigan Legislature has an important opportunity to make meaningful changes in the way we care for mothers and babies in our state, especially mothers and babies of color. The Momnibus offers long-overdue solutions to some of the most critical issues within Michigan’s maternal and perinatal health systems, and we know it will drastically improve health outcomes.
In my experience as a mom, the thoughts that rush into our heads as soon as we find out we are pregnant really never go away. We are always going to wonder about our child’s future, the part we play in it and how we could be doing better. But policies like those in the Momnibus package can go a long way toward making sure all babies and moms get the right start.
To learn more about the Michigan Momnibus, which includes several other care solutions not covered in this blog, we encourage readers to visit https://www.mistatebirthjustice.com/.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
