04/16/2026
This week, Governor Josh Stein joined Senator Natalie for NC Senate, the Legislative Black Caucus, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to recognize Black Maternal Health Week and raise awareness of ongoing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Black women are nearly twice as likely as white women to die from pregnancy complications in North Carolina. We cannot accept these disparities as a fact of life, so we must take action to ensure that all mothers and their babies receive the health care they need.
Governor Stein is committed to expanding access to care for mothers and their families. Last month, Governor Stein called on the General Assembly to pass a $1.4 billion Critical Needs Budget that addresses North Carolina’s most urgent needs while lawmakers continue to work on a comprehensive state budget. The budget includes $319 million to fully fund Medicaid, which covers half of all births across North Carolina and supports OB/GYNs, midwives, pediatricians, and behavioral health professionals who provide essential care for mothers and infants.
