New Jersey has a sweeping new plan to tackle maternal health and improve the state’s ranking as among the worst in the U.S. for maternal deaths. By setting out practical steps that providers and state leaders can follow to close the gaps in birth equity, the Maternity Action Plan — or MAP — is aimed at reversing New Jersey’s maternal health crisis.
Part of first lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative, the plan includes specific actions to improve maternal outcomes in the state. One is by improving data collection to better understand patient experiences. Another is changing the payment system to include more holistic approaches to birth, with fewer cesarean sections and more birthing centers or midwives.
