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Birth Equity
Every woman, regardless of race or zip code, deserves to bring life into this world safely and with dignity.
In the summer of 2023, Lieutenant Governor Stratton convened a group of Black women birth workers for a community conversation to address the startling racial disparity in Illinois’ maternal mortality rates for Black women. As a result of this meeting, planning for the Birth Equity Initiative began. The driving purpose of this initiative is to address the startling racial disparity in Illinois’ maternal mortality rates for Black women and to ensure equal access to holistic care through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for every Illinoisan.
In his FY2025 Budget address, Governor Pritzker proposed a significant investment to promote equity in pregnancy, postpartum care, and newborn care, allowing women to choose birthing options. It would also mandate private insurers to cover services rendered by birth workers, such as doulas and midwives, without consumer cost-sharing. Additionally, it would ensure that necessary medical equipment for home births is covered and that mothers have access to home visits from lactation consultants. This bill was a key priority for the Lieutenant Governor during the 2024 spring legislative session, marking a significant advancement in the protection of women’s healthcare in Illinois.
House Bill 5142, known as the Birth Equity Initiative, was signed into law as Public Act 103-0720 on July 29, 2024.
Governor Pritzker signs the Birth Equity Initiative bill with Lieutenant Governor Stratton and other elected officials and advocates at Chicago Beyond.
