OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, has advanced legislation to strengthen maternal safety and improve health outcomes for mothers and infants across Oklahoma after House Bill 4285 passed the House with an 85-5 vote.

House Bill 4285 would create the Perinatal Quality Improvement Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma State Department of Health to support initiatives in birthing hospitals statewide.

"When you talk to families and health care providers, you hear the same thing, we can do better when it comes to caring for moms and babies," Miller said. "This bill would give the 41 birthing hospitals in Oklahoma the support they need to make real improvements and help more families have safe and healthy outcomes."

The bill would allow the State Department of Health to partner with quality improvement initiatives and organizations across Oklahoma to address preventable maternal and infant health issues.

HB4285 would focus on reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as lowering rates of preventable complications and deaths among newborns and infants. The measure also would support collaboration among providers to strengthen standards of care and expand access to proven best practices.

The revolving fund structure would allow the state to receive and utilize a variety of funding sources, including federal funds, grants and private contributions, helping support long-term improvements in care.

HB4285 now moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, is the Senate author.