The U.S. General Accounting Office did this study because the country is experiencing a maternal health crisis. The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations. It is experiencing increasing rates of complications from pregnancy or childbirth and persistent disparities in such outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working to address this crisis and meet long-term goals such as increasing women’s access to high-quality maternal care. However, as of September 2023, the agency hasn’t determined how it’ll measure progress toward achieving its maternal health goals. Following key performance measurement practices, such as setting near-term goals and establishing timeframes for results, would allow the agency to better understand if its efforts are effective. We recommended that HHS do so.
See a summary here and download the full report here.
