We need to expand Medicaid to save pregnant and postpartum people!
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Dear Friend,
“I had to rely on Medicaid for myself and my then-toddler. It was a very
difficult time for me. I was sick during the majority of my pregnancy, and
without Medicaid and being able to pick the doctor of my choice, I am not
sure I would have been able to maintain medical coverage and cost for my
family.” -Jessica, Indianapolis, IN
“Receiving prenatal care through Medicaid was vital because of an Rh
factor---otherwise I could have miscarried and never would have known
why.” -Rachel, Minneapolis, MN
As millions around the nation gather together next week to celebrate the
holiday season, too many families will be facing the holidays missing a
loved one who lost their life due to our nation’s maternal health crisis.
What’s the deal? Right now, the United States is the most dangerous place
to give birth in the developed world, [1] with major racial disparities
where Black women die at 3 to 4 times the rate of white women due to
maternity-related causes, independent of age, economic background, or
education. [2]
But, it doesn’t have to be this way. It is estimated that 60% of maternal
deaths could be prevented by improved access to health care. [3] With
about half the births in the United States currently covered by Medicaid
[4], expanding Medicaid to cover the critical postpartum period while
recovering from pregnancy and childbirth is a key part of the solution to
our nation’s maternal health crisis.
[ [link removed] ]**Sign on now to tell your members of Congress to support the Helping
Medicaid Offer Maternity Services Act of 2019 (H.R. 4996) aka the Helping
MOMS Act!
What would the Helping MOMS Act do? This bill would incentivize states to
extend Medicaid to cover the entire postpartum period and invest in
maternal health. Currently, the majority of pregnancy-related deaths in
America happen after the day of delivery, and nearly one-quarter of deaths
happen more than six weeks postpartum. [5] Yet, despite the
life-threatening risks that women face in the postpartum period, Medicaid
currently only covers women for two months after the birth of their baby.
[ [link removed] ] Extending Medicaid coverage would be a crucial lifeline and lifesaver
for many birthing people and their babies. [ [link removed] ]
[6]**Add your name to our open letter to Congress to urge them to stand up
for the lives of parents and babies!
Research has shown that Medicaid expansion is associated with a reduction
in maternal and infant mortality [ [link removed] ]. Further, states that expand Medicaid
improve the health of women of childbearing age by increasing access to
preventive care, reducing adverse health outcomes before, during and after
pregnancies, and reducing maternal mortality rates. [ [link removed] ] In addition,
better health for women of childbearing age also means better health for
their infants. States that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable
Care Act saw a 50 percent greater reduction in infant mortality than
non-expansion states. [ [link removed] ]
[7]**Sign our petition! Tell Congress to address our nation’s maternal
health crisis by expanding Medicaid for pregnant and postpartum people
through the Helping MOMS Act!
Raising your voice for this piece of legislation can make a critical
difference when it comes to protecting the lives of pregnant and
postpartum people. To move this bill into law before the holiday break, we
urgently need YOUR help.
We hope you will join us to continue being a powerful, lifesaving voice
for moms!
-Nadia, Monifa, Felicia, Tasmiha, Beatriz, Diarra and the whole MomsRising
/ MamasConPoder team
[1] [8]NBC News. U.S. is the most dangerous place to give birth in the
developed world.
[2] [9]US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. The
Black–White Disparity in Pregnancy-Related Mortality From 5 Conditions:
Differences in Prevalence and Case-Fatality Rates.
[3] [10]Vital Signs: Pregnancy-Related Deaths, United States, 2011–2015,
and Strategies for Prevention, 13 States, 2013–2017.
[4][7] [ [link removed] ]Nearly Half Of U.S. Births Are Covered By Medicaid, Study
Finds.
[5][6] [ [link removed] ]Underwood’s Bipartisan Legislation to Address America’s
Maternal Mortality Crisis Passes the Energy and Commerce Committee.
[8][9][10] [ [link removed] ]Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for
Children and Families. Medicaid Expansion Fills Gaps in Maternal Health
Coverage Leading to Healthier Mothers and Babies.
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