by Government Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced new legislation on Thursday aimed at improving the health of mothers for the lowest incomes Arkansans.
Much of the legislation, included in identical versions of legislative proposals that were submitted on Thursday, would make changes to the State’s Medicaid program, of which Sanders said it would cost around $ 45 million a year.
The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act would be eligible for a presumed medicaid for pregnant Arkansans, so that they can receive prenatal care while their application is processed. The legislation also proposes compensation for Doulas and health workers in the community and the setting up of pregnancy-related medicaid coverage for remote ultrasound, blood pressure monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring. By one press release.
“We know that the health of the mother is complicated and we know that it will not be improved by a standing policy,” Sanders said on one press conference in the Capitol Thursday. “Today’s announcement is the type of extensive, collaboration approach that we need to actually bring the needle forward.”
Arkansas has one of the highest parent mortality rates in the nation and the third highest child mortality, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.
More than half of the births in Arkansas are covered according to Medicaid, according to Arkansas Department of Health Civil servants. Of the approximately 35,000 pregnancies in the state, 10,000 Arkansans see no doctor until after the first trimester, and 1,100 do not see a doctor until they are giving birth, Sanders said.
The aim of components of the bill, such as medicaid payments, aims to increase access to pregnancy-related care. The legislation would make it possible to cover up to 14 prenatal and post care visits, which are expected to cost an estimated $ 12.2 million according to a press release.
Verbunding of Medicaid payments is “huge,” said Senator Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, who, together with Rep. AARON PILKINGON, R-Knoxville, Thursday identical versions of the Sanders-supported account submitted House Bill 1427 And Senate account 213.
“The legislation is designed to be specific, intentional and targeted,” Irvin said. “We know where the problems exist based on the data and the research that took place.”
The State Medicaid program will also use $ 25.7 million to increase reimbursements for deliveries and C-Sections by 70%, which would increase access to care by encouraging more doctors to participate in Medicaid, Sanders said Thursday.
The Governor last March at Executive Order strategic committee Consider the suggestion of ways to improve the poor health results of the state. The proposed budget of Sanders comprises $ 13 million to support recommendations Made by the committee last September, including a broader use of TeleHealth services and mobile health units, and improving the access of pregnant Arkansans to transport so that they can come to and to the agreements of doctors.
During Thursday’s press conference, Sanders emphasized other steps that government agencies have taken to tackle the maternal health crisis of Arkansas, such as expanding prenatal care in local health units, a pilot program for mother’s health care in five provinces with poor results of the mother’s health, as a result of which a $ 17 million is obtained from the US Department of Health and Human Services and continue with an announcement campaign about the state.
One thing that Arkansas has not done is the Medicaid cover for postpartum mothers from 60 days to 12 months after birth. Arkansas is The only state That has not taken any action to this option. Sanders has previously stated that this would be “superfluous” because of the other health insurance options of the state.
Sanders repeated her attitude on Thursday and said, “That coverage for access exists, but we have to do much better to increase consciousness and ensure that mothers are connected to it.”
Rep. Ashley Hudson from Little Rock, the only democratic co-sponsor of the bill, said that she is ‘happy’ about guaranteeing suspected Medicaid fitness, but had preferred the bill to take on extensive care.
“It is clear that I would like to see the 12-month postpartum coverage included, but at the moment we know that we have a health crisis for mothers, we have to do something,” Hudson said. “So I’m not going to throw away well looking for great. I am looking forward to seeing the changes we get from this account and the improved results for mothers. “
House minority leader rep. Andrew Collins, D-Little Rock, has submitted House Bill 1008He proposes that medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers requires a year after the birth. The bill is not yet planned for a hearing by a committee.
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