Black midwives are suing Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi over regulations that restrict their practice, including collaborative agreements with physicians and hospital-like rules for birth centers. These lawsuits aim to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women, who face a mortality rate of 44.8 per 100,000 births.
- Lawsuits filed in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi challenge collaborative practice agreements and birth center regulations. - Plaintiffs argue restrictions violate state constitutions and antitrust laws, limiting access to culturally congruent care.
- Legislative efforts to ease regulations have failed, prompting legal action. The midwives seek to expand access to care in underserved areas, where maternal mortality rates are highest.