Sen. George Helmy (D-New Jersey) is co-sponsoring the Keeping Obstetrics Local Act, which aims to enhance financial support for rural and safety net hospitals providing maternity, labor, and delivery services to vulnerable populations.
The bill increases Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services for eligible rural and high-need urban hospitals, provides “standby” payments to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining an obstetrics unit at low-volume hospitals, creates low-volume payment adjustments for labor and delivery services at hospitals with low birth volumes, and requires all states to provide postpartum coverage for women participating in Medicaid for 12 months.
KOLA requires that hospitals use these additional resources to invest in the maternal health care needs of the local communities they serve to address the maternal and infant health crisis the nation is facing.
“Pregnant individuals in rural and underserved communities across the United States are facing alarming mortality rates due to the severe lack of quality and affordable health care services available to them,” Helmy said. “Recent attacks on reproductive rights in states across the nation have heightened the risk, threatening to raise maternal and infant mortality rates even higher.”
Tammy Murphy was thrilled, saying the bill could have great impact.
“Expecting mothers across the nation, especially those in our Black and Brown communities, are lacking proper access to crucial, affordable health care,” she said. “This unacceptable barrier to care contributes to the maternal and infant health crisis in the United States.
“In New Jersey, we have been working for seven years on innovative policies that ensure every mother receives equitable and compassionate care. I am hopeful that this bill will allow expecting mothers in rural and underserved communities across our nation to access quality care for a safe and healthy birth.”
Launched in 2019 by First Lady Tammy Murphy, Nurture NJ is a statewide initiative aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality in New Jersey and ensuring equitable care for women and infants across all races and ethnicities. Since its inception, Nurture NJ has seen over 65 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed by Gov. Murphy.
The initiative has also developed and implemented groundbreaking programs and policies, such as the first-of-its-kind in the nation Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which is tasked with overseeing the groundbreaking New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center based in Trenton and will be the arm of government that continues the vital work of Nurture NJ past the Murphy Administration.