By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO
U.S. Reps. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.-03) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37) introduced a bipartisan resolution this month to expand prenatal screening for antiphospholipid syndrome, or APS, a treatable blood clotting disorder that can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and other serious pregnancy complications.
The initiative seeks to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly among Black women, who face higher rates of pregnancy complications nationwide.
The resolution, announced on Sept. 9, builds on advocacy from multi-platinum recording artist Christina Perri, who experienced pregnancy loss due to undiagnosed APS. Perri has used her platform to raise awareness of the condition and the lifesaving potential of early screening.
Kamlager-Dove told the AFRO that it was “super important” for her to co-lead the resolution.
“We know that in the United States, one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth each year. Sometimes the numbers are much higher for Black women in the maternal health space,” said the California lawmaker.
APS is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies trigger dangerous blood clots. During pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and severe complications. Experts believe the condition is widely under-diagnosed, affecting at least one in every 2,000 pregnancies.
Critically, APS-related pregnancy loss is often preventable with early detection and treatment, making timely testing essential for women hoping to carry a pregnancy to term.
Kamlager-Dove highlighted the gap in current prenatal care.
“What we know now is that women are only tested for APS, antiphospholipid syndrome, after multiple pregnancy losses. All you need to do is take a simple blood test and that will determine if you have this disease,” the Democratic lawmaker told the AFRO.
Kamlager-Dove then explained that early detection can make a dramatic difference.
“If you have the disease, it may be as simple as taking a blood thinner like baby aspirin, so that you can successfully get pregnant and carry to term. My bill would ensure that all women get tested,” she added.
Currently, most medical guidelines recommend APS testing only after repeated pregnancy losses. Yet the blood test costs less than $1,000, far below the $15,000 average cost of post-miscarriage procedures.
The Democratic lawmakers contend that expanding screening as a standard part of prenatal care could prevent heartbreak and reduce the financial and emotional burden on families.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) told the AFRO there is a significant connection between prenatal care access and maternal mortality.
“If we’re going to take seriously reducing mortality rates, we have to start with prenatal care, and that’s why we have to push to make sure that everyone gets equitable access and it starts with us having policies that do exactly that,” she added.
Rep. Kamlager-Dove also emphasized the racial disparities in access to prenatal testing.
“We know that Black women disproportionately go without major tests when they are trying to get pregnant, or once they are pregnant, which is oftentimes one of the reasons why we have a higher number of pregnancy complications,” she said. “So, while we are often asked to be strong and resilient and silent, I felt it was important to tell my story in hopes that this can get passed and turned into law.”
The California lawmaker also mentioned that medical researchers have stated that systemic barriers contribute to higher rates of complications among Black women. These include gaps in access to early prenatal screening, implicit bias in healthcare and socioeconomic factors that limit consistent medical oversight during pregnancy.
According to the CDC, Black women are more than twice as likely as White women to die from pregnancy-related causes.
Democratic lawmakers and advocates say the resolution could help narrow these disparities by ensuring that all women, particularly those historically underserved, have access to life-saving diagnostic tools.
Kamlager-Dove concluded, “Women deserve the chance to know their risks and take action early, rather than waiting until tragedy occurs.”