Maternal Mortality - ROOM TO IMPROVE
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Happy Thursday Healthcare Advocates
I would like to encourage comments and suggestions from you if you have time. If there is a special topic you’d like to see please let me know. Please use the comment button below. Right now I have queries out regarding health insurance denials. Will report back when the data arrives.
Maternal Mortality Insights
According to Axios, Arizona pregnancy-associated deaths quadrupled in the last two decades. The number of deaths per 100,000 live births in Arizona rose from 7.6 to 32.1 between 1999 and 2019. Rates among Black and Native American people increased even more.
Among Black Arizonans, the rate increased from 23 to 122.9.
Indigenous Arizonans saw the death rate rise from 28.6 to 92.8.
Three problems are identified:
Access to care - this isn’t just having a way to pay doctors, this is having a doctor to see. Rural areas are suffering greatly.
Social determinants of health - safe housing, sufficient food, secure employment, access to social services. Medical providers should be asking women about their lifestyles and connecting them with resources if needed. remember yesterday’s patient revolution? What a place to apply it.
Systemic racism: Women of color are also less likely to be believed when they report medical concerns. We reported on this last week. Serena Williams, complained after giving birth and was not believed. She was indeed having pulmonary issues. The racism goes across all socioeconomic and education lanes and is present. Many don’t believe this and seek to end all DEI activity but the evidence is overwhelming. Always follow the data not your feelings.
Healthcare Experiment - Colorado
The state of Colorado is now offering a public option (sort of) for healthcare. It is is not a single payer public insurance trust but it is a plan designed by the state of Colorado and sold by private insurance companies.
It's available to all Coloradans who buy health insurance on the individual market, and to small employers with less than 100 employees at lower premiums. The Colorado Option requires health insurers to lower premiums on Colorado Option plans by 15% by 2025. The insurers are required to shave 5% off their 2021 premiums each year for three years, accounting for inflation.
The Colorado Option will cover all essential health benefits required by the ACA, including many high value services, like primary care, behavioral health, and prenatal visits, at no cost. It will combine standard health benefit plans, required premium reductions, and increased state subsidies for those currently eligible and those not currently eligible for federal subsidies under the ACA to make coverage more affordable.
This was done with a Health & Human Services Waiver to innovate increasing coverage. Watch this space.
Also good to note that abortion is legal at all stages of pregnancy in Colorado. Colorado is one of seven states without any term restrictions on when a pregnancy can be terminated. Colorado has the fifth-lowest maternal mortality rate in the United States at 11.5 deaths per 100,000 births. However, pregnancy-associated mortality in Colorado has nearly doubled since 2008, climbing from 24.0 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008 to 47.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2016. Let’s see if a better health plan can improve these statistics.
Action
Maternal health and maternal mortality are not doing well in the United States. As we have seen the social determinants of health is a key player. Let’s tell our representatives to pass the 2023 Black Momnibus bill to address those issues. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that includes 13 bills to address maternal health. The bills make investments in social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation, and nutrition, which can influence maternal health outcomes.
You can text SIGN PISPDL to 50409 on your cell phone as well to send this message
I am your constituent. Maternal health and maternal mortality are shameful in the US and I want you to take action. Co-sponsor and support the 2023 Black Momnibus bill to address the social determinants of health and fix it. Thank you.
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Organizations to Contact
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Planned Parenthood
Physicians for a National Health Plan
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water Resistbot write up