The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a series of layoffs that have had a significant impact on the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). This system, which is considered the gold standard in the field of maternal health, was overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and administered by 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The PRAMS dataset is a valuable resource that collects survey responses from individuals before and after giving birth. It provides detailed insights into maternal health in the United States and has been crucial for researchers studying the country’s high maternal mortality rates. However, the entire CDC PRAMS team, including key staff members like epidemiologist Jennifer Bombard, has been placed on administrative leave as part of the recent layoffs.
The future of the PRAMS program is now uncertain, as HHS has announced plans to reorganize and potentially create a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America. This restructuring has raised concerns among health policy researchers like Katy Kozhimannil, who emphasize the importance of maintaining access to the PRAMS data for studying maternal health.
Previously, data collection for PRAMS was temporarily paused to comply with executive orders from President Trump. Researchers highlighted the essential role of the dataset in understanding maternal mortality and developing effective public health programs. Despite the temporary pause, the recent layoffs have raised questions about the long-term availability of this crucial data resource.
Spokespeople for the Department of Health and Human Services have not provided clear guidance on the future of the PRAMS program. The email sent to some states on Tuesday offered no information on what would happen next, leaving many researchers and stakeholders in the dark about the fate of this important surveillance project.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential for stakeholders to stay informed and advocate for the preservation of the PRAMS program. The loss of this valuable data resource could have significant implications for maternal health research and efforts to address the country’s maternal mortality rates. Researchers and advocates are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting further guidance from the CDC on the future of the PRAMS program.
