For years, Arkansas has carried one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, an often-overlooked crisis with devastating consequences. But change is beginning to take shape.
Back in 2019, a bipartisan group of mostly women legislators took an important step by establishing the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee (AMMRC), shining a light on a problem too many didn’t even know existed. With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas joined a growing number of states committed to understanding why mothers were dying and how to prevent it.
That early work laid the foundation for what would become a significant policy shift. In 2023, the Excel by Eight Foundations Collaborative engaged in a yearlong strategic planning process. Maternal health emerged as a top concern. Doulas, already embedded in the work, stepped forward to organize and elevate their collective voice. With support from Excel by Eight, they formed the Doula Alliance of Arkansas and began shaping their own legislative vision.
Their timing was pivotal.
In early 2024, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders established the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health, a six-month task force that brought together more than 100 stakeholders to identify reforms. The result was a strong set of recommendations, many of which were captured in the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, signed into law in February 2025 just two weeks after its introduction.
The new law includes expanded coverage for services proven to save lives — blood pressure and glucose monitoring, remote ultrasounds, and presumptive Medicaid eligibility — so moms don’t fall through the cracks. It incentivizes timely prenatal care and acknowledges the essential role of community-based doulas and health workers.
Another major win came with the passage of Act 965, which establishes a certification process for doulas, clarifies their scope of practice, and ensures reimbursement through Medicaid and private insurance. The message is clear: doulas are part of the care team. Their role is non-clinical but essential, and when they have support, outcomes improve.
That same legislative session also brought progress in breastfeeding support. Act 627 requires both Medicaid and private insurance to cover lactation consultation services. It’s another step toward treating maternal health from prenatal to birth to postpartum care.
These legislative wins are the result of years of groundwork, smart coalition-building, and a clear recognition that maternal health is both a moral priority and an economic necessity. Investing in maternal care reduces costly complications down the road, making it a compassionate and cost-effective choice.
What we’re witnessing is the result of clear strategy and timely action. Arkansas still has a long road ahead, but this moment is a turning point. We should follow it with sustained commitment and deeper investment. Because when moms thrive, communities do too.
