More Than A Policy Point: Supporting the Women Who Shape Our World

Great women have shaped the United States. And we owe much of our identity to some of these incredible humans. Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, the multitude of First Ladies, and so many more. And despite these outsized impacts upon our society, our elected leaders are still largely ignorant of the topic of women’s health. It is past time we stop ignoring this topic and begin to actively address it. This general lack of awareness about the rates of domestic violence, maternal mortality rates, breast cancer rates, and, more specifically, women’s health outcomes is an oversight with profound ramifications for women across the United States. For example, in 2023, a time when maternal mortality was declining worldwide, the World Health Organization declared that the U.S. was one of only seven countries to report a significant increase.

The fight for reproductive rights is so much more than being “pro-choice” or “pro-life.” At its core, it is about being PRO-WOMEN'S RIGHTS. And for many women in Oklahoma and other deeply “conservative” states, it is the fight for survival because these women face some of the highest risks in the nation. Ultimately, it is a fight for their very lives. Because supporting a woman's right to choose means supporting her right to live through pregnancy and through the first year of motherhood, I am proud to champion women’s rights and lobby on their behalf for better health outcomes in the United States of America.

Maternal Mortality 

The national mortality rate is 17.9 per 100,000 live births. And for black women, it is nearly TRIPLE that number. The stark racial disparities in women’s healthcare have persisted for decades. We must prioritize improving maternal mortality rates in the United States. 

Most people would assume birth is the danger zone, but 63% of maternal deaths happen in the first year post-birth, 26% happen during pregnancy, and 11% occur on the day of delivery. This makes 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage, as well as the services before delivery, critical for women. Pregnancy-related health costs average $20,416 (about $3,000 out-of-pocket expenses), with an additional $16,575 (about $15,000 out-of-pocket) for a toddler’s first two years. When women do not have access to care, in which 38% of women report skipping care due to cost, both mothers and children suffer the consequences. 

Maternity Care Desert: Oklahoma’s Geography Problem 

Since 2020, there has been a 12% reduction in rural labor and delivery units across the U.S. In Oklahoma, 56 rural hospitals lack labor and delivery services. Right now, only 23 units are still providing services, and four of those are at risk of closing. For many of Oklahoma’s women, the median drive to reach a hospital that can deliver their baby is 39 minutes; closure of some hospitals could result in a 46-minute drive to an alternative hospital that can provide services. One can imagine the impact this will have on birth statistics and on mortality rates.

Women’s Mental Health 

For far too long, women have been marginalized. And that includes their health outcomes. Whether it is a misdiagnosis or an overdiagnosis, this is not just a clinical error; it is a public health failure. Maternal suicide and overdose are leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths, accounting for up to 20% of maternal mortality. One in five women are impacted by maternal mental health disorders like postpartum depression. And data shows this is not just a rural issue. In 2025, a study was conducted to track where in the U.S. women are at the greatest risk of developing mental health disorders. In this study, they identified Oklahoma County as a high-risk urban area for these mental health challenges. I believe that a healthy family requires both a healthy baby and a healthy mother.

A Call for Support: Moving Toward Solutions 

As we discuss access to care and maternal mortality rates, it is clear these patterns in women’s health reflect a broader challenge impacting not just women in Oklahoma, but women nationwide. All of these trends point to a simple but urgent reality. We must make women’s health a policy priority and begin to truly invest in improving women’s health outcomes. This can look like dedicating resources to mitigate risks, expanding Medicaid coverage for doulas and midwives, establishing specialized perinatal care and mental health units, and maintaining the 12-month postpartum coverage we voted for in State Question 802. Women’s health is both a public health and economic issue, and we must demand better outcomes for the women who shape our world. 

Any policy that restricts reproductive healthcare or fails to support Medicaid expansion—Or SoonerCare, as it is called in Oklahoma—directly threatens the majority of Oklahoma’s growing population. Nationally, Medicaid finances 41% of births, and in Oklahoma, SoonerCare pays for over half of all births. This is especially critical for women in rural communities, where Medicaid pays for 47% of births and provides the funding that keeps rural hospitals open. If we don’t protect this coverage, we risk losing more rural hospitals that provide labor and delivery services. 

Ultimately, I stand for a government that does not encroach upon one’s right to make personal medical choices, with the advice and consent of their physician. Politicians should not be injecting their personal beliefs into these highly personal conversations and decisions. A woman’s rights should not change as she crosses state lines. Being pro-choice is not just about one policy debate. This is about fighting for healthcare access, resources, and protections that allow women to make safe, healthy choices that are best for them. 

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Aubrey Winger et al., Health costs associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care, Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker (2025), link

2025 U.S. maternal mental health risk and resources by county, policy center for maternal mental health, https://policycentermmh.org/2025-us-maternal-mental-health-risk-and-resources/.

Maternal suicide in the U.S. - opportunities for improved data collection and Health Care System Change, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, https://policycentermmh.org/maternal-suicide-issue-brief/.

Perinatal Care: Perinatal care is health care for both mother and baby before, during, and after childbirth—Specialized Perinatal Care, New York-Presbyterian, https://www.nyp.org/womens/pregnancy-and-birth/specialized-perinatal-care.

Kffbryanacs, 5 key facts about Medicaid and pregnancy (2025), Kaiser Family Foundation, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-and-pregnancy/.