Native America Calling: The shift in federal support for maternal health

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Native America Calling: The shift in federal support for maternal health

Thursday, August 21, 2025

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The shift in federal support for maternal health

A relatively new program with proven results in improving the health of expecting and new mothers may be in jeopardy.

Efforts to renew the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program by the September 30 deadline have so far been unsuccessful. ERASE MM panels review and document social and legal factors that go into providing maternal health care. Absent or inconsistent approaches state-by-state could make it harder to spot gaps for Native mothers.

Federal funding cuts also threaten access to birth control for more than 800,000 women. The Trump administration is signaling a shift in the Nixon-era program known as Title X, promoting fertility programs for low-income women rather than providing them contraception.

In addition, pending cuts to Medicaid could reduce family planning services to millions more. Tune in to take a look at the current trend in family planning services for Native Americans.

Guests on Native America Calling

Camie Goldhammer (Sisseton Wahpeton), founding executive director of Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services in Washington state

MichaeLynn Kanichy (member of the Makah Tribe), co-founder of The Hi•dubał Baʔas, also known as The Makah Birth House, in Washington

Julia Wall (Pueblo and Anishinaabe), health administrator for the Changing Woman Initiative, a non-profit in New Mexico

Shireen Ghorbani, president and CEO for the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah