If you think Black infant mortality rates across the country are bad, look at Mississippi. They’re even worse.
While the United States had seen a consistent decrease in the infant mortality rate in recent years, that number spiked again in 2020. A wide range of issues contributes to the United States’ higher infant mortality rate compared to other developed nations. Most high-income countries provide universal healthcare access, while the U.S. relies on a patchwork of private and public healthcare programs.
Socioeconomic disparities and limited access to education and employment opportunities further exacerbate these mortality rates—especially in Mississippi, where these challenges are magnified.
There’s no debate about whether Black women and mothers are struggling through childbirth within the state because the statistics paint a stark picture. According to the latest 2024 Mississippi Department of Health Report Card, Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation for infant mortality and 45th for maternal mortality. The situation is dire. In 2021, the infant mortality rate in Mississippi was 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly double the national average of 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births. For Black infants, this number rises significantly. While the national Black infant mortality rate in 2021 was 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, in Mississippi, it was 12.6 per 1,000.
These numbers are not just statistics; they represent real women and mothers who are struggling to have healthy pregnancies and whose infants are needlessly dying—not only due to inadequate healthcare but also because of racism embedded within these systems. These struggling women are our neighbors, our coworkers, and members of our communities. We must do more—not only to support them but to fight for their right to quality, affordable healthcare.
2025 Legislative Solutions That Died in Committee
Progress is possible—but not without policy changes. This legislative session, I introduced House Bill 718 and House Bill 1342 to directly address some of these disparities. Unfortunately, both bills failed to make it out of committee, highlighting the urgent need for stronger advocacy.
• House Bill 718 aimed to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment for pregnant women by requiring substance use disorder facilities to provide onsite access to at least one FDA-approved opioid agonist treatment. With opioid-related deaths still a crisis in Mississippi, ensuring that pregnant women struggling with addiction have immediate access to care is critical for both maternal and infant health.
• House Bill 1342 sought to improve cultural competence in healthcare by requiring continuing medical education (CME) in cultural competence and implicit bias for physicians practicing in general practice, pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology. Research shows and the Mississippi Maternal Mortality Review Committee agrees that racial bias in medical care leads to worse outcomes for Black mothers and infants. This bill would have helped ensure that physicians are trained to recognize and address disparities in care.
Both of these bills were designed to reduce maternal mortality and improve birth outcomes for Black women and infants, but their failure to advance underscores how much work remains to be done.
Medicaid Expansion is Still Needed
This is not to say that no progress is being made. New Mississippi legislation, supported by both the House and Senate and approved by Governor Tate Reeves, went into effect on July 1st and allows for earlier Medicaid coverage for pregnant women throughout the state. House Bill 539 creates an entirely new section in the Mississippi Code of 1972, establishing presumptive eligibility for ambulatory prenatal care under Medicaid for pregnant women for up to 60 days. This change allows pregnant women to receive critical care before their Medicaid application is officially approved by the state. We are working to fix this law this 2025 session with an amendment that removes a mom bringing proof of income with her to the doctor.
However, this bill does not expand Medicaid eligibility. Since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2012, activists have been urging legislators to expand coverage at both the federal and state levels. Expanding Medicaid would enable more women—especially marginalized women—to access vital maternal healthcare services, prenatal care, and postpartum support.
The Path Forward
Advocating for these necessary changes is important, but a crucial part of the solution is education. Mississippi residents must stay informed about policy proposals, legislative decisions, and advocacy efforts. Your voice matters at the ballot box. By electing leaders who prioritize maternal and infant health, we can make real, lasting changes.
We can’t afford to wait. Too many mothers and infants have already been lost. The time to act is now.