Walmart Heirs Commit $100 Million to Halve U.S. Maternal Death Rate, Backing Bipartisan Legislation
Olivia and Tom Walton, heirs to the Walmart fortune, have pledged an initial $100 million over five years through Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America (HMHBA) to reduce the U.S. maternal mortality rate by half. This initiative aims to fund state-matching grants, partnerships, and infrastructure to improve maternal health outcomes. Olivia Walton, who founded HMHBA in May, emphasized that solutions already exist and it's a matter of resource allocation, including earlier care, extended postpartum support, and family-centric care models. The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, with 669 maternal deaths in 2023, and disproportionately affects Black women. HMHBA is also supporting two bipartisan bills: the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, co-sponsored by Senator Tina Smith, and the NIH IMPROVE Act.
