Although facilities are required to implement discharge planning procedures to ensure an effective transition for mothers who are leaving the hospital, some discharge procedures are not implemented properly. Premature discharges can have detrimental outcomes for mothers and babies, including being exposed to infections, higher stress levels, readmissions and in severe cases death.     
 
In 2025, Mercedes Wells was in active labor at an Indiana hospital and was never seen by a doctor before the nurse discharged her without a discharge plan. The nurse who was overseeing her care neglected to provide adequate care and denied her request to be treated by a doctor, despite Wells giving birth three times before and knowing her body. Less than 10 minutes after leaving, Wells gave birth to her baby on the side of the road with her husband, Leon Wells, delivering their baby and without the support of medical staff and equipment.
 
Due to similar unfortunate and traumatic events experienced by too many pregnant patients, I plan to introduce the Pennsylvania Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety (PA WELLS) Act. This legislation would require hospitals to have a discharge plan for pregnant patients, establish a grant to fund training initiatives for hospitals, and establish a maternal health dashboard within the Department of Health. This bill is modeled after federal legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly in the Wells home state of Illinois.
 
Please consider joining me in this effort to ensure that all mothers and babies in our Commonwealth can receive the best maternal health care that they need during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and in the postpartum period.