VP Harris to promote maternal health in White House event

[December 07, 2021]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday will host a meeting to promote improvements in U.S. maternal health with guests including Democratic Senator Cory Booker to U.S. Olympian Allyson Felix.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she speaks during a visit at the Charlotte Area Transit System facility, in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. December 2, 2021. REUTERS/Chris Keane

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any wealthy nation in the world, and rates have worsened over the past 20 years, the White House said.

As part of the first White House Maternal Health Day of Action, Harris will call on the public and private sector to help find solutions to the problem, a White House official said.

Harris will highlight a proposal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation and guidance to states on how to cover Medicaid postpartum services for a year.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)

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