State agency sounds alarm on rise in maternal morbidity

Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) analysts have found an alarming rise in severe maternal morbidity among patients hospitalized in the state for a delivery from 2016 through 2022.  

In fact, the rate increased 40%. 

Severe maternal morbidity includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant consequences to a woman’s health, PHC4 said.  

PHC4 examines several common medical conditions and procedures annually to release meaningful statistical research briefs. 

 “When our research team identifies a data trend such as this, we know we need to make our stakeholders aware,” said Dr. Jane Keck, Director of Health Policy Research at PHC4. “We know this reporting provides valuable insights; we hope it can help improve future outcomes too.” 

In addition to the 40% increase in morbidity, the report found in 2021-2022 the rate of severe maternal morbidity experienced in hospitals was 107.6 per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations; for a total of 2,625 women affected. 

Women who were black, non-Hispanic; women 40 to 55 years old; women insured by Medicaid; and women from zip codes with poverty rates over 25% had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity, the report shows.