Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
August 24, 2022 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
As previously reported in Connecting the Dots, in April 2022, the Biden Administration announced an initiative to create a Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation framework to help improve U.S. maternal health outcomes. Administered by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Biden Administration will provide this designation to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting a hospital for labor and delivery. CMS will make its Birthing-Friendly Hospital designation information publically available on its website, beginning in the fall of 2023.
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July 20, 2022 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
In June 2022, the Biden Administration issued its Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis to help address maternal mortality and morbidity rates, reduce maternal-health disparities, and improve the overall pregnancy experience for all individuals across the United States. President Biden’s Blueprint iterates the President’s call to policymakers to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum in all states and to adopt funding provisions within the President’s 2023 budget request to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
April 20, 2022 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
To combat maternal mortality and disparities, the Biden-Harris Administration last week announced that it would introduce a Birthing-Friendly designation system for U.S. hospitals. Run through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Birthing-Friendly designation will be publicly-reported to help consumers select hospitals that delivery high-quality maternity care and demonstrate a commitment to maternal health.
December 06, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
This week, President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Moms Who Served Act into law, the first of the 12 Momnibus bills to make it to the President’s desk. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act focuses on maternal health among Veterans by commissioning a study to assess maternal-health risks birthing Veterans face and investing in Veteran Affairs’ maternity-care coordination.
November 04, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
The State of New Jersey and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced New Jersey’s commitment to provide Medicaid coverage one year after a pregnancy to beneficiaries. This coverage will apply to close to 8,700 New Jerseyans and will help address maternal-health disparities that New Jersey—and all states—see among their underserved populations.
October 08, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Evidence-based childbirth education is a critical part of the prenatal care continuum, but too few are aware of, or have access to, this vital service. Lamaze members took this message to the Hill to educate Congressional staff on childbirth education’s critical role in improved outcomes and to advocate for increased access to their services.
June 15, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Lamaze International’s call for increased advocacy joins a chorus of stakeholders, maternity care providers, and policymakers seeking to improve maternal health outcomes. This is taking place on many different fronts, through increased awareness, dialogue, partnerships—and legislative action. Since the inaugural Lamaze Advocacy Summit in 2017, the number of maternal health-related bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have tripled.
Initiatives to identify and address causes and contributors to maternal mortality and morbidity have prompted a deeper dive into maternal healthcare in United States—and growing number of different bills introduced each year reflects the progression from discussion to action. The uptick of maternal health bills in just a few short years is a positive step toward improving maternal health outcomes
May 31, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
In its report, Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Additional Efforts Needed to Assess Program Data for Rural and Underserved Areas, the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) issued recommendations to capture, and understand, indicators for lower maternal health outcomes in rural and underrepresented areas. By disaggregating and analyzing maternal health data, researchers will be able to identify factors that contribute to poorer maternal health outcomes among those living in rural and underserved areas.
May 13, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
Lamaze is excited to host a three-day virtual event focused on international, federal, and state advocacy September 27-29, 2021. Through educational content-offerings and meetings with Congressional representatives, Summit attendees will have opportunities to earn CEUs and advocate for federal maternal health bills in U.S. Congress.
April 13, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
As Lamaze joins stakeholders, advocates, and policymakers in celebrating Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17, 2021), Lamaze educators, advocates, and parents can reflect on the progress made on raising awareness of maternal health disparities—and the actions taken to address them. With the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus’ (BMHC) and other policymakers’ leadership, vision, and collaboration, federal efforts to reduce maternal health disparities and shortfalls are no longer just talking points. They are now Congressional actions.
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