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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedSeptember 10, 2026Miami-Dade County

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America Pledges $100 Million to Reduce U.S. Maternal Mortality

Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Main Feed

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America announced a 100 million dollar commitment over five years to cut the U.S. maternal mortality rate in half by 2031. The bipartisan campaign, founded by Olivia and Tom Walton, aims to fund care improvements, improve hospital data collection speed, and encourage state governments to match the investment.

HealthcareMaternal MortalityPhilanthropyPublic HealthState Government
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Why It Matters

A 100 million dollar philanthropic pledge aims to alter maternal healthcare funding, data reporting timelines, and postpartum services across U.S. states over a five-year period.

Key Facts

  • Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America announced a 100 million dollar, five-year commitment to cut the U.S. maternal mortality rate in half by 2031.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 688 people died in 2024 during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth, with the rate rising to 19 deaths per 100,000 live births.
  • The initiative plans to fund state-level care improvements by encouraging state governments to match the nonprofit's investment.
  • The campaign's strategy includes expanding access to maternal health in rural areas, training midwives, expanding postpartum care, and accelerating hospital reporting of deaths.
  • Heartland Forward partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in May to collect data from 220 hospitals through the Perinatal Improvement Collaborative.
  • The initiative supports federal bipartisan legislation including the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act and the NIH IMPROVE Act.
  • Senator Cory Booker estimated the economic consequences of poor maternal health outcomes at 165 billion dollars each year.

Who's Mentioned

PersonCory Booker“Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey supporting legislation”PersonTom Walton“Co-founder of the campaign and philanthropist”OrganizationPerinatal Improvement Collaborative“Network of 220 hospitals collecting health outcome data”PersonDr. Neel Shah“President of Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America”OrganizationU.S. Department of Health and Human Services“Partnered to collect maternal and infant health data from 220 hospitals”PersonOlivia Walton“Co-founder of the campaign and philanthropist”PersonSam Walton“Founder of Walmart and grandfather of Tom Walton”OrganizationHealthy Moms, Healthy Babies America“Bipartisan campaign funding the maternal mortality initiative”OrganizationHeartland Forward“Waltons' nonprofit partnered with HHS”OrganizationCenters for Disease Control and Prevention“Provided data on U.S. maternal mortality deaths”PersonKatie Britt“Republican U.S. Senator from Alabama supporting legislation”OrganizationLilly Endowment Inc.“Provides funding through The Conversation US for AP philanthropy coverage”