One of the measures the Missouri legislature approved before its session ended last week could save and improve the lives of mothers and their infants, and get the state out of the basement in state rankings for infant and maternal mortality.
Representative Melanie Stinnett (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Amendments added to two bills, Senate Bill 106 and Senate Bill 45, would extend MO HealthNet or Show-Me Healthy Babies coverage for low-income pregnant women to a full year after the end of their pregnancy. Currently that coverage stops after 60 days.
At the beginning of the legislative session a bipartisan group of six House members had filed that proposal, with several more having co-sponsored it.
It was the fourth time Representative LaKeySha Bosley (D-St. Louis) had brought the idea forward, and she said she was ecstatic to see one of “her babies” reach the governor’s desk, and for it to have been part of a truly bipartisan effort.
Representative LaKeySha Bosley (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Legislators heard time and time again that a reason to pass this legislation is that Missouri is one of the lowest ranked states in terms of maternal and infant mortality. Representative Patty Lewis’ (D-Kansas City) background includes more than 20 years in nursing. She said this extension will make a huge difference for low-income Missouri mothers, and thereby help Missouri improve that ranking.
Many Republicans point out that the measure is also fiscally conservative. By improving outcomes for mothers, and thereby for their infants, many of them will require less state assistance and will make fewer emergency room visits.
Democrats say the bill was especially important in the wake of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that triggered a law banning most abortions in Missouri.
Bosley said this additional coverage for mothers and infants impacts an entire family. People often don’t think about what a partner goes through when a mother or infant are sick.
Brad Pollitt (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
This provision would become law immediately upon SB 106 or SB 45 becoming law. Those bills are now awaiting action by Governor Mike Parson (R), who could choose to either sign them into law, allow them to become law without his action, or veto them.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is sponsoring legislation that they hope will save the lives of women and infants in Missouri, and in doing so, move the state farther from the bottom in the nation in infant and maternal mortality.
Majority Floor Leader Jon Patterson (R) (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Their proposals would extend MO HealthNet or Show-Me Healthy Babies coverage for low-income pregnant women to a full year after the end of their pregnancy. Currently that coverage stops after 60 days.
Representative LaKeySha Bosley (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Governor Mike Parson (R) in his State of the State Address earlier this month said, “we are heartbroken to be failing,” in the area of infant mortality, with Missouri ranking 44th in the nation for its “abnormally high” rate.
Freshman representative Melanie Stinnett (R-Springfield) said maternal healthcare was an issue that voters talked to her about leading up to her election in November.
Representative Patty Lewis (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
The Republican sponsors of the bill acknowledge that it also relates to their party’s identity regarding its pro-life stance. Bishop Davidson (R-Republic) said his party is often criticized as only supporting life before birth, but this bill is one thing that demonstrates otherwise.
Representative Melanie Stinnett (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Representative Bishop Davidson (Photo: Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)
Patterson observes that the broad appeal of this plan isn’t limited to the House but extends to the Senate, where two versions have been filed and have already received a hearing. He and the other sponsors share great optimism that this will pass this year.