Sophia — Referenced as having spoken about related issues; the speaker adds support to Sophia's points.
Sophia — Referenced as part of the prior testimony being affirmed.
Sophia — Referenced as part of the prior testimony being affirmed.
Sophia — Referenced for raising concerns about cuts affecting youth education and community services.
Sharon Quirk-Silva — The speaker refers to 'Assembly Member Cork Silva,' which appears to be Sharon Quirk-Silva, whose question is being discussed.
Clarissa — Clarissa responds that there is real fear in the community and that people are delaying care.
Clarissa — The speaker corrects a mistaken name reference and acknowledges Clarissa's presentation.
Kim — Kim is repeatedly referenced as having previously testified about how the issue affects community health care access, as well as broader impacts on health care and education. The later mentions simply reaffirm that prior testimony, often alongside Sophia, without introducing a new topic.
Matthew Green — Introduced as a representative of the California Department of Public Health.
Matthew Green — Referenced as having discussed the high-risk postpartum period.
Chris Esgera — Introduced as a representative of the Department of Health Care Services.
Matt Green — Introduced himself as Deputy Director of the Center for Family Health at the California Department of Public Health and began testimony on maternal health outcomes.
SB65 — SB 65 is referenced as the California Momnibus Act of 2021 and as the legislation that solidified the work of the Pregnancy Associated Review Committee.
Dr. Joya Krayer Perry — The speaker quotes Dr. Joya Krayer Perry, founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, emphasizing her point that race is not the factor in maternal health outcomes; racism is the underlying driver of maternal health disparities.
Dr. Krayer Perry — Praised as 'a legend in this space' and referenced for the quote about racism in maternal health.
Doctors Kelly McHugh and Nicole Economo — The panel invited them to speak next.
Kelly McHugh — Introduced as one of the OBGYN witnesses from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Nicole Economo — Nicole Economo, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Sacramento, introduced herself and then transitioned into describing California-based reproductive health equity initiatives associated with ACOG, including the CARE Committee.
Dr. Kara Bridges — Identified as a presenter on racial disparities in health, with expertise in race, reproductive justice, and law.
Dr. McHugh — The speaker turned the presentation over to Dr. McHugh.
Dr. Kelly McHugh — Dr. Kelly McHugh introduces herself as an OBGYN in the Sacramento area and an ACOG California executive committee member, then argues that education about racism and implicit bias is essential to recognizing maternal health disparities. She explains that improving outcomes requires coordinated, team-based quality improvement efforts at the institutional level, with projects that are equity-focused, data-driven, measurable, transparent, and inclusive of patients and communities. She describes how existing CMQCC data can be used to identify disparities, review charts, interview affected patients, and implement iterative solutions. As an example, she discusses a project that found Black women were being transfused more often than non-Black patients, traced part of the issue to anemia entering labor and delivery, and led to interventions such as better lab follow-up and offering IV iron to reduce transfusion risk.
Unknown Assemblymember — Asks whether any evidence-based labor-and-delivery interventions have improved outcomes for Black, Latino, and Indigenous women.
Ziyomara Benia — Introduced as the next speaker from Hispanic Organized for Political Equality.
Siumana Pena — Introduced herself as vice president of community engagement and innovation at Hope.
Maria Lemos — Maria Lemos, executive director of Vision y Compromiso, testified on behalf of a statewide network of promotoras and community health workers, emphasizing that maternal health support should be centered in community-based organizations and promotoras rather than systems alone. She described promotoras as the day-to-day trusted support people who help families navigate care, prevention, and resources, and stressed that family and community networks are essential to helping women get through pregnancy and childbirth. She urged the committee to prioritize CBOs and promotoras across the board, noting the broad reach of her network and the outsized impact even modest investments could have.
Natalie Pito — Natalie Pito, speaking on behalf of the California Academy of Family Physicians, thanked the committee and urged continued legislative investment in the primary care workforce, reproductive health care, and social services. She emphasized that improving maternal outcomes requires access to both comprehensive reproductive health services and longitudinal primary care.
Sarah Diaz — Sarah Diaz of the California WIC Association thanked Assemblywoman Rodriguez and spoke about opportunities to strengthen lactation policy, including improving data collection. She supported AB 2160 and urged steps such as Medi-Cal enrollment for lactation support providers and better breast pump standards. She concluded by emphasizing that these measures would improve infant feeding support and maternal and infant health outcomes, especially for families facing the greatest inequities.
Michelle Rodriguez — Thanked for leadership on reproductive and maternal health equity.
AB2160 — AB 2160 is discussed as a bill supporting the enrollment of lactation support providers as independent Medi-Cal providers, and the speakers express support for the bill, noting backing from Christine Smith and Health Access California.
Christine Smith — Christine Smith of Health Access California testified in support of AB 2160 and the Health For All campaign, warning that recent Medi-Cal cuts for adult immigrants are undermining progress toward universal coverage and creating separate and unequal systems of care. She urged lawmakers to end the medical freeze and restore the program so coverage can be expanded and protected.
Karen Stout — Karen Stout, speaking for the California Nurse Midwives Association, thanked the committee and CDPH and then emphasized persistent maternal health inequities in California, especially for Black and Indigenous birthing people. She highlighted the role of certified nurse midwives in addressing provider shortages and improving health equity, and supported expanding midwifery access through targeted bills and investments, including education programs for CNMs.
AB836 — Described as a bill from last year providing short- and long-term solutions for CNM education programs.
SB520 — SB 520 is discussed as a prior-year bill aimed at providing short- and long-term solutions for CNM education programs. The follow-up mention clarifies that the bill has not yet been funded and would require $2 million to establish a second master’s-level CNM master’s program in California.
Esmeralda Soria — Identified as the Assemblymember associated with AB 836.
Anna Caballero — Anna Caballero is identified as the senator associated with SB 520, with a follow-up reference likely referring to her as well in the context of work on the bill.
Anna Alvarez — Testified on behalf of the Health for All Coalition about Medi-Cal access for immigrants and the impact of state and federal cuts.
Mitchikis, Keningayasit, Sky, and Rarity — Introduces self with a name that appears to be a multi-part Indigenous name; exact spelling is uncertain.
Anae Matiazio Santiago — Introduces self as a fellow with the California Latino Capital Association.
Anaa Matias Santiago Santiago — Introduces self as a fellow with the California Latino Capital Association Foundation and speaks in favor of equity-centered, community-based advocacy.
Aston Georgiel Williams — Introduces self as being with the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network and speaks about centering LGBTQ communities of color.
Sky — Referenced as having made a prior point about centering LGBTQ communities of color.
Diana — Diana introduces herself as the vice president of programs at Hope, and her earlier comments are later referenced in the same discussion about continuing services, tying her role to the ongoing service-delivery conversation.
Kim Robinson — Introduced as a panelist from Black Women for Wellness.
Kim Robinson — Kim Robinson introduced herself as the community liaison and policy analyst for Black Women for Wellness and Black Women for Wellness Action Project. She explained that the organizations are based in Los Angeles and Northern California, that she works in the Stockton location, and that their mission is to support the health and well-being of Black women and girls through policies and programs. She also described working with Black mothers, families, health care providers, community organizations, and policymakers to improve reproductive health care across California.
Kim Robinson — The speaker closes by thanking Kim Robinson for her presentation and sentiments, expressing appreciation for her testimony and response.
Antonio Hernandez — The speaker appears to be referring to a person shown in a slide, but the name is uncertain.
AB1764 — Referenced as the starting point for efforts to create compensation for survivors of forced or involuntary sterilization.
AB107 — Referenced as the bill signed into law in October 2021 establishing the sterilization compensation program.
Black Women for Wellness — Described as approaching maternal health through a community solutions lens.
Sophia — Sophia is asked to speak to the impact of ICE and immigration fears on access to care.