DELAWARE — Delaware lawmakers and maternal health advocates celebrate the ceremonial signing of legislation designed to strengthen protections for pregnant patients experiencing labor symptoms.
Senate Bill 301 requires hospitals to establish discharge plans for pregnant patients who seek care for labor symptoms. The plans are intended to provide patients with clear next steps, access to appropriate care and reliable transportation, and information about alternative hospitals in case of an emergency delivery.
The legislation passed unanimously in both chambers of the Delaware General Assembly. Sen. Marie Pinkney, the bill’s prime Senate sponsor, said the measure addresses gaps in maternal health care, particularly for Black patients.
“Time and time again, stories are told across the nation of Black women disproportionately experiencing inadequate care and having their concerns dismissed by medical professionals,” Pinkney said.
House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, a nurse and the bill’s House prime sponsor, said discharge planning is an essential part of patient care.
“As a nurse, I know that discharge is not simply the moment a patient walks out of the hospital, it is a critical part of their care. A pregnant patient who seeks help because she is in pain or experiencing labor-like symptoms deserves to leave knowing what is happening, what warning signs to watch for, what steps to take next, and when to return for immediate care. No woman should leave a hospital uncertain about whether she or her baby is safe. We know our bodies better than anyone else,” Minor-Brown said.
The legislation was inspired by the federal WELLS Act, backed in Congress by U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly. The federal proposal was named for Mercedes Wells, who gave birth on the side of a road after being discharged from a hospital.
Blunt Rochester said the Delaware legislation builds on efforts underway at the federal level.
“From the first trimester to the fourth trimester, we want to make sure moms and families have the support they need to be healthy,” Blunt Rochester said. “The signing of Delaware Senate Bill 301 will save lives while building on the work we’re doing in Congress to end the maternal health crisis. I’m honored to have been with my partners in progress—Senator Marie Pinkney and Speaker Minor Brown—to celebrate this historic moment for First State families.”
The ceremonial signing was held at Josie’s Grace, a Delaware nonprofit that provides maternal mental health support during pregnancy, postpartum and the transition into parenthood.
Anne DeCaire, founder of Josie’s Grace, said the organization has served nearly 300 mothers through free trauma-informed care, screening, peer support and other services.
“Inspired by my own survival of a perinatal mood and anxiety condition in 2009, I designed this program to be the exact sanctuary of care and support I wished had existed back then,” DeCaire said.
Gov. Matt Meyer said the new requirements are intended to make sure pregnant patients leave hospitals with a safe plan.
“When a mother is in labor, 'good luck' is not a plan. Any pregnant woman who shows up to a hospital in Delaware should feel seen, heard, and cared for until she and her baby are safe. From this day forward, no patient in labor leaves a Delaware hospital without a plan, a ride, and a safe place to go,” Meyer said.
Delaware lawmakers said they will continue advocating for passage of the WELLS Act in Congress to extend similar protections nationwide.
