Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Criticized for Disbanding Maternal Mortality Committee
In 2024, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders dissolved the state's maternal mortality committee. This action followed the committee's recommendations for extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum women and its focus on the well-being of pregnant individuals. Instead of the original committee, Governor Sanders established her own 'advisory' group. This move by Arkansas is part of a broader trend observed in other states, including Georgia, Florida, and Idaho, where similar committees or their functions have been altered or dismissed. For instance, Georgia dismissed all 32 members of its maternal mortality committee in 2024 after internal documents linked two women's deaths to the state's six-week abortion ban. Florida has also reduced the transparency and public access to its Maternal Mortality Review Committee's activities and membership, while Idaho disbanded its committee entirely in 2023. 
