Rockland Reporter

Senator Bill Weber has expressed concern over a recent audit by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli regarding maternal health and the death rate among Black mothers. The audit found that the Department of Health has inadequately tracked data on women who contract illnesses before or during childbirth, as well as racial disparities.

Weber, representing the 38th Senate District in Hudson Valley, addressed his concerns in a letter to Health Commissioner John McDonald. "With the amount of money New York spends annually and asks its taxpayers to fork over each year, it is unfathomable to me that the severe maternal health issues outlined by the Comptroller still exist in New York today," Weber wrote in his letter released Wednesday. "With all due respect, how is this possible?"

In response to these findings, state health officials have recently hired staff to review and assess morbidity data and plan to add more workers using grant funds. A spokesperson for the Department of Health stated that the department “remains dedicated to eliminating disparities so all people who give birth have birthing experiences that are safe, supportive, and empowering.”

— Nick Reisman

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