***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18 AT 11:00 AM ET // 10:00 AM CT***
The CARE for Moms Act Includes Historic Investments to Strengthen Health Care Coverage During and After Pregnancy, Grow and Diversify the Doula Workforce, and Address Underlying Causes of Maternal Mortality
Washington, DC — On Monday, September 18, 2023 at 11 AM ET, U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and National Medical Association President Dr. Yolanda Lawson will join Protect Our Care to discuss her new legislation, the CARE for Moms Act, which is a comprehensive plan to combat the U.S. maternal mortality crisis. The bill includes critical steps to save lives, including by investing $35 million in state-based grants to improve perinatal care, mandating Medicaid coverage for new moms one year postpartum, extending Medicaid oral health coverage to pregnant and postpartum women, addressing implicit bias in the health care training, increasing and diversifying the doula workforce, and more.
During the call, speakers will discuss how the CARE for Moms Act takes a multifaceted approach to promoting the health and safety of new mothers and their babies and the urgent need to stop the worsening maternal mortality crisis. More than 1,000 women die annually due to complications of pregnancy or childbirth, making the U.S. maternal mortality rate three times higher than other wealthy nations. Black and Native women are at significantly greater risk of facing serious complications. Representative Kelly will introduce the CARE for Moms Act on September 19.
PRESS CALL:
WHO:
U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02)
Dr. Yolanda Lawson, President of the National Medical Association
Dr. Phyllis Dennery, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Rhode Island Hospital, Medical Director of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Vice Chair of March of Dimes Board of Trustees
Sara Jann Heinze, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Maternity Care Coalition
Protect Our Care
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference
WHERE: Register for the Event Here
WHEN: September 18, 2023 at 11 AM ET