---
title: Maternal Health Crisis Demands Policy Changes
date: 2026-04-12T00:00:00-04:00
author: Laura Prieto
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/maternal-health-policy-2026-04"
section: Media Coverage
---
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[Media Coverage](/media-coverage)# Maternal Health Crisis Demands Policy Changes

By Michele Helgeson, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, and Judy Norsigian • Boston Globe • April 11, 2026

"We know what works for mothers and families, but our policies fail."

Massachusetts has an ongoing maternal health crisis because of public policy. Our Bodies Ourselves cofounder [Judy Norsigian](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/people/judy-norsigian), Michele Helgeson (a certified nurse-midwife and cofounder of The Midwife Solution), and Dr. JudyAnn Bigby (former Massachusetts secretary of health and human services) call for policy changes in their letter to the Boston Globe. Saving lives and addressing health inequities will depend on public support for midwifery education, sustainable reimbursement, and freestanding birth centers.

> We already know what works. Midwife-led care in freestanding birth centers delivers better outcomes, lower costs, and more equitable care. It emphasizes continuity, shared decision-making, and culturally responsive support — precisely what our fragmented system too often fails to provide.

Subscribers to the Boston Globe can access the article online [here](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/11/opinion/letters-maternal-health-gaps/).

Read more about Our Bodies Ourselves' [advocacy for midwifery access here](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/advocacy/increasing-access-to-midwifery-care).

[Read the full published letter ](https://assets.ourbodiesourselves.org/documents/Maternal_health_gaps_expose_cr.pdf)

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