04/01/2026
New federal data show pregnancy related deaths in the U.S. declined slightly in 2024, but the bigger story is who is still at risk.
Black women are still dying at more than *twice* the national rate, and this fact must not be lost in reports of progress (though progress remains fragile). For Asian American women, deaths nearly *doubled* in one year alone. These large gaps reflect the very real differences in access to health care and how certain patients are treated very differently within the same system.
Additionally, data show that health care matters a lot for pregnant women, but nearly 1 in 4 women did not receive first trimester prenatal care in 2024. And Arkansas still has not extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to a full year, meaning many new moms lose coverage just 60 days after givingbirth. Again, we are the ONLY state in the nation that does not offer extended Medicaid coverage for new moms. (Source: CDC maternal mortality data, 2024)
Our state can do so much better! The legislative fiscal session begins in a few days on April 8. What legislators propose to fund reflects our state’s priorities. We’ll be sure to keep you informed on what these priorities are and if lawmakers still refuse to prioritize the health and wellbeing of Arkansas women.
