Exciting news for expecting mothers in New York—Medicaid now covers doula services and provides extra paid leave time for pregnant women. Governor Hochul has also announced the opening of a maternal health clinic in the Bronx, all in an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the state.
Hochul, deeply invested in combating this critical issue, was quoted by the New York Daily News saying, “It is personal to me that I take on this infant and maternal mortality crises. The fact that you are pregnant is not a reason to die.”
The new Medicaid plan now includes coverage for doula services, which offer invaluable support to pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth. Doulas can cost between $1,000 and $2,500, a hefty sum that many mothers cannot afford.
State health commissioner James McDonald highlighted the importance of doulas in enhancing the birthing experience, providing emotional support to families. Moreover, New York will now grant pregnant women an extra 20 hours of paid leave, making it a pioneering initiative effective from January 1, 2019.
The new Medicaid program aims to address disparities in childbirth outcomes based on race and class. According to KFF, Black women are projected to have a maternal mortality rate three times higher than White women in 2022. Startling statistics like these underscore the urgency for such changes.
With the U.S. experiencing one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, doulas play a vital role in recognizing and addressing potential issues during pregnancy, ultimately saving lives of both mothers and infants.
While New York’s Health Department offers an online directory of doulas, many mothers remain unaware of this resource. Financial literacy professor Alex Beene at the University of Tennessee at Martin praised New York’s Medicaid changes as a positive step forward and addressed a long-standing concern with the program.
New York’s proactive approach sets it apart as the first state to implement such significant Medicaid reforms, signaling a promising direction towards improved maternal healthcare outcomes.