Illinois Releases Blueprint to Improve Maternal Health and Birth Outcomes

CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and the Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday released the Illinois Birth Equity Blueprint, a statewide plan to improve maternal health and birth outcomes by addressing systemic disparities and strengthening access to care. The blueprint builds on the state’s Birth Equity Initiative and outlines four goals: expanding investments in provider support, promoting access to birthing and specialty services, creating a universal risk assessment and care coordination system, and developing shared accountability measures. The plan involves multiple state agencies and follows recent legislation expanding Medicaid postpartum benefits and coverage for doulas and lactation consultants, with the goal of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality and advancing equity for mothers and families across Illinois.