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There is much good news to report on an omnibus health bill with several components designed to improve women’s health. The bipartisan effort, HB 2372, spearheaded by Representative Tara Peters, has been approved by the Governor.
The recognition of the need for policy change and its direct impact on the health of Missouri women is welcome and sorely needed if we are to put families first. Health insurers will now have to cover blood pressure monitoring devices for prenatal and postpartum women. Cardiovascular disease is a leading driver of maternal death and the number one cause for Black mothers in Missouri. High blood pressure is also a factor in pre-term birth.
The new law also prioritizes doula care, a service that is covered via MOHealthNet. The policy extends the number of doula visits to twelve, recognizing the need for doulas during the postpartum period as vital to mother and baby health. Nurture KC has offered doulas to our Healthy Start participants for several years and it is one of our most impactful services.
Access to services doesn’t begin during the pregnancy and postpartum period. The law also provides for one-year contraception care, an important tool for women’s health and family planning. There is also an opportunity to improve overall health with language that allows the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services to initiate a food is medicine program in which MOHealthNet could offer a nutritious food benefit to participants.
Finally, the law expands participation in the Missouri Pregnancy Associated Maternal Mortality Review Board, diversifying the geographical composition and disaggregating data to ensure a more comprehensive view at pregnancy outcomes in Missouri. This has long been championed by Senator Barbara Washington as crucial to improving data collection and strategies in reducing maternal mortality.
To view this legislation and others affecting Missouri families, check out our legislative wrap on the members page of Nurture KC.
Gratefully,
Tracy Russell
Chief Executive Officer, Nurture KC
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