New York Gov. Kathy Hochul – the state’s first “mother governor” – said Thursday she wants to introduce legislation to provide 40 hours of paid medical leave during pregnancy.
The Democrat unveiled a plan to allow time for prenatal medical visits at Wycoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, which he said would make the Empire State the first in the nation to have statewide prenatal care.
The field is part of a proposal to address rising infant and maternal mortality, he said.
“Make no mistake: we are facing a maternal and infant mortality crisis,” Hochul said during the speech, his third stop in the “State of the Nation” series.
“As the first female governor of New York, this is personal to me,” she said. “We are committed to continuing to address this crisis with policies that improve parents and children across New York State.”
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is the state’s first “mother governor”. Gabriella Bass
Hochul, a mother of two, promised to introduce legislation that would eliminate co-payments for out-of-pocket medical expenses, streamline access to doulas and provide funding for cribs.
New Yorkers will be able to use doula services without a doctor’s referral with a law that would authorize the state’s health commissioner to issue “standing orders,” Hochul said.
Meanwhile, the plan also calls for eliminating cost sharing — including co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs — for New Yorkers enrolled in Essential Plans or Qualified Health Plans.
The proposed legislation would eliminate co-payments for maternal medical expenses, streamline access to doulas and provide funding for cribs. Gabriella Bass
Hochul also launched an initiative that would reduce the need for unnecessary Cesarean births (or C-Sections) that would include oversight to identify physicians whose “behavior is inconsistent with clinical best practice.”
About one in five pregnancy-related deaths is due to a mental health condition and about one in eight women who give birth experience postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The state will train 988 suicide counselors and crisis lifelines to better equip them to deal with the challenges expectant parents face, according to the governor.
About one in five pregnancy-related deaths are due to a mental health condition and about one in eight women who give birth suffer from postnatal depression. Gabriella Bass
“In New York, we refuse to accept the crisis of maternal and infant mortality – we are taking action to ensure women and infants have access to health care options and services that save their lives,” said Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado in a statement.
“This is how we address the gap that exists and support families across the state. We will proudly lead the way.”
According to CDC data, infant mortality jumped 2% between 2021 and 2022. That’s compared to a 3% increase nationwide.
According to CDC data, infant mortality jumped 2% between 2021 and 2022. Getty Images
Every week, about two babies die in unsafe sleeping conditions contributing to 120 infant deaths each year, according to the governor’s office.
Hochul has also provided funding for the distribution of mobile cribs for under-resourced New Yorkers at no additional cost, according to his plan.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
