March madness is upon us and I’m talking about more than the end of the college hoops season. In the Kansas and Missouri state houses, this is the dangerous or rewarding time of the legislative session, depending on your point of view. Through legislative calendars and the process, certain bills move forward while others languish for another year, giving us a glimpse of policies that might become law, often adopted via a frenetic process that is not for the faint of heart.
2022 has all of the hallmarks of this critical time of the session and it is having an impact on Nurture KC’s top priority in both states, postpartum extension of Medicaid benefit to women up to one year. While the measures enjoy broad bipartisan support in both states, both are running into some hurdles. In Missouri, very few bills have been debated on the floor of the Senate as squabbles over unrelated issues have slowed consideration of this and other important issues. In addition, attempts to amend the postpartum extension bill with more controversial issues has been a stumbling block as well. As both the House and Senate are trying to keep this important health issue moving forward, the chances for passage are unknown at this time.
In Kansas, the postpartum extension was included in both the Senate and House versions of the budget. The budget bill has not yet been adopted, so we are waiting to see if this funding is ultimately approved.
Nurture KC believes this policy is vital to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Kansas and Missouri. As national reports continue to sound the alarm around maternal mortality rates, this policy could tangibly reverse the trend in these states. Please reach out to your local lawmakers to keep postpartum extended coverage front and center, worthy of consideration and passage to save women’s lives.
Tracy Russell
Executive Director, Nurture KC
