Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled a proposal Thursday to combat maternal and infant mortality in New York.
The governor said she will introduce legislation that would expand the state's paid family leave policy to include 40 hours of paid leave for attending prenatal medical appointments — making New York the first state in the nation to provide statewide prenatal coverage concern.
It would also allow the state health commissioner to issue a “standing order” allowing New Yorkers to use doula services without a doctor's referral.
Hochul announced the plans to a crowd of mothers and their newborn children.
“We are now double our peer countries in both infant mortality and maternal mortality,” Hochul said. “Our data shows that prenatal care makes a difference. It dramatically increases the chance of a healthy pregnancy. You visit your doctor more often and you have a healthy baby.”
The plan also calls for eliminating cost sharing – including co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs – for pregnancy-related benefits for any New Yorker enrolled in the Essential Plan, New York's Basic Health Plan or Qualified Health Plans.
Hochul also proposed directing the Ministry of Health to launch new initiatives to reduce the number of unnecessary caesarean sections, including new surveillance measures to identify doctors whose behavior is not in line with clinical best practices.
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said this topic is catching on.
“I know the trauma firsthand. Six years ago a hospital in New York City turned me away because my unborn child was protruding from me – three centimeters dilated with labor and other medical complications and all they did was cite hospital policy” , she explained. . “And they said they couldn't help me or try to save me. Their solution was to abort my baby.”
Bichotte Hermelyn was a lead sponsor of maternal health care measures in the state legislature.
The state would also train counselors to respond to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on issues related to maternal mental health, postpartum depression and anxiety.
In addition, the state would provide free funding to distribute portable cribs to under-resourced New Yorkers to combat sleep-related infant deaths. The cribs would be available to families through local county departments of social services and other community organizations.
“Make no mistake: We are facing a maternal and infant mortality crisis,” Hochul said. “As the first mother governor of New York, this is personal to me. We are committed to tackling this crisis head-on with policies that benefit parents and children across New York State.”
Recent CDC statistics showed an increase in infant mortality for the first time in more than two decades.
Hochul's announcement is part of her State of the State address, in which she outlines this year's legislative priorities. She will give that speech Tuesday at the state Assembly in Albany.
State lawmakers returned to Albany on Wednesday to begin the 2024 legislative session.
