In 2010, 1,600 low-income women lost access to prenatal care through Medicaid, leaving them without the critical
care that would help their baby be born as healthy as possible. With your help, we can restore this coverage through LB 599.

Help make healthy babies a priority this session
There are two opportunities to make your voice heard:

Press Conference

When: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
12:00 pm (Gather at 11:45am)
Where: Rotunda, Nebraska Capitol

Following the press conference, we will stop by legislators’ offices to urge them to prioritize healthy babies.

Vigil

When: Saturday, February 11, 2012
1:00 pm
Where: Christ United Methodist Church
Fellowship Hall, 45th and A Street, Lincoln

Can’t make it? Call your State Senator. Tell them to support LB 599 and make healthy babies a priority this session.

Share with your friends and families. Nebraska’s babies need all of our voices!

Prenatal Press Conference & Vigil – Printable Flier

The following groups support LB 599 and urge a vote on the bill this year:

Alegent Health

Building Bright Futures

Center for People in Need

Center for Rural Affairs

Health Center Association of Nebraska

Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska

League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha

League of Women Voters of Nebraska

March of Dimes

Nebraska Appleseed

National Association of Social Workers – Nebraska Chapter

Nebraska Catholic Conference

Nebraska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Nebraska Child Healthcare Alliance

Nebraska Head Start Association

Nebraska Hospital Association

Nebraska Medical Association

Nebraska Right to Life

Omaha Together One Community

Recently, I came across an online article entitled, “New Ads Push Prenatal Care”.  I clicked on it to learn more, and found myself somewhat surprised to be reading  the article in the Phnom Phen Post, the English language newspaper in Cambodia.

I went to Cambodia on a couple of occasions back in 2004 and 2005.   Decades after the formal departure of a cruel and inhumane government, Cambodians were still suffering from the ills of poverty and lack of medical treatment.  Crossing the border from Thailand, I remember being met not only by extreme poverty but also by the lingering horrors of the cruelty of the former regime like burn victims and people with missing limbs.   It was truly heart-wrenching.

The article talks about Cambodia’s efforts to reduce its staggering infant mortality rates through prenatal care.  I haven’t been back to Cambodia since then, but the article makes me hopeful that Cambodia is starting to look toward its future by investing in its very youngest residents. 

The article also reminded me of a chart that our resident data queen here at Voices for Children, Melissa Breazile, put together last year.   The chart compared infant mortality rates in Nebraska and the United States to other advanced economies.

As you can see, with both Nebraska and United States at the bottom of the chart, we have room for improvement.  The  infant mortality rate is not nearly as alarming as in a place like Cambodia, but we rank relatively low compared to our peers.  We can and should do better.  If Cambodia — with all they have overcome as a nation — can make healthy babies a priority, surely we can too. 

A little over a month from now, our state legislature will return to session, and have the opportunity to do just that .   We can make healthy babies a priority by restoring access to prenatal care coverage for all low-income Nebraska mothers through Medicaid.  We know that it’s the right thing to do, and we are hopeful that our fellow Nebraskans and state senators do too.

A news release issued by the Child Death Review team, who operates under the Department of Health and Human Services, reported that between the years of 2007 and 2008 there were 551 child deaths in Nebraska (http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/newsroom/newsreleases/2011/Nov/childdeathreviewteam.htm). Of this number, over 165 of those were a result of some form of preventable measure. Who is held accountable for these deaths? The leading indicator and predictor for preventable deaths was associated with that of premature birth and associations with premature birth were related to maternal complications. These complications carry the potential to go undetected if the mother has lack of access to prenatal care and education. Disparities seen within the reported deaths also indicate deficient healthcare standards and interventions amongst populations within the state. The increase in the representation of African American children in this child death toll has increased from 11% in the years 1996 – 2001, to 14% in 2007 – 2008. The prevalence of the Hispanic representation has also vastly increased from 9% to 14% respectively. Recommendations that came from this report highlight the importance of providers and the community engaging in a comprehensive approach for the prevention of preterm delivery through education on the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and smoking cessation.
One must understand that the data reported within this release was from 2008 and does not capture those individuals that lost access to prenatal care with the termination of their Medicaid as of March 2010. The state of Nebraska has taken steps in the wrong direction by not allowing all low-income women continued access to prenatal care through Medicaid. Research has proven that those individuals who have access to health education received during prenatal care visits have reduced birth related complications related to prematurity and in fact generate an approximate 31% cost savings from the average hospital expenditure (Cramer, Chen, Roberts, and Clute, 2007). Therefore prenatal care not only plays a pivotal role in preventing premature births, birth related complications, and child mortality rates but serves as a cost savings measure. Let’s be proactive in meeting the needs of mothers and infants through the restoring of prenatal care through Medicaid instead of being reactive and attributing to increased healthcare costs.

Hello! My name is Jena and I wanted to take the time to introduce myself as an intern with Voices for Children in Nebraska. I have been given the opportunity and privilege to work closely with this organization and learn about the foundations, purpose, and objectives. I, myself, am currently working as a registered nurse and also completing my graduate education in Nursing Administration and Leadership. I personally have the advantage of not only receiving healthcare benefits but I work within the healthcare field itself which affords me the ability to witness first-hand the shortcomings of this system. These shortcomings start with the youngest of consumers, the babies, infants, and children of Nebraska. The loss of prenatal care for many Nebraska babies in 2010 was a significant setback for child health. The issue brief published in June 2010 by Voices for Children organization depicts and portrays the importance of prenatal care (http://voicesforchildren.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CV-2010Spring.pdf). Lack of prenatal care is associated with more pre-mature births and lower birth weights.  These outcomes translate into increased spending by the state and its taxpayers in terms of financing birth related complications, intensive healthcare requirements, and future complications. By eliminating prenatal care to 1,619 unborn babies on March 1, 2010, the state willingly agreed to accept the financial responsibility that is associated with their birth, care, and future needs. Costs associated with a complicated birth range widely from $20,000 to $400,000 per infant versus $6,400 for a “normal” and uncomplicated birth.  When we look at these costs compared to the cost of providing prenatal care, we can see a return on our investment. The Institute of Medicine published a report that stated with every $1 spent on prenatal care correlates to a savings of $3.38 in reduced medical care expenditures regarding those high-risk and low birth weight infants. Prenatal care makes a difference for a lifetime and healthy babies are worth the investment. LB 599, a bill to restore prenatal care for all low-income Nebraska babies, is still awaiting action in the Health and Human Services Committee of the State Legislature.  We hope that like us, you believe that every baby still deserves the best possible start in life.  Look for more from us on this issue in the coming weeks as we talk more about why prenatal care matters and why now is the time for Nebraska to reverse this poor decision and invest in healthy babies.

On Wednesday, March 16^th, the Health and Human Services Committee will consider LB 599, introduced by Senator Campbell, which would restore access to prenatal care for all low-income Nebraska mothers.  As you know, access to this essential services was lost last year for approximately 1,600 Nebraska women.  Lack of prenatal care can result in babies being born too small, too soon or with serious health problems.  As long as this policy remains in place, our newest Nebraskans will continue to pay the price.  Contact your Senator (hyperlink to: http://nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php) TODAY and tell him or her that you support LB 599 and think that all Nebraska babies deserve the best chance for a healthy birth and a healthy life.

Thanks to all of you who during last year’s legislative session used your voice to speak up on behalf of Nebraska babies.  Despite our best efforts, 1,619 mothers lost access to prenatal care through Medicaid.  Anecdotal evidence from Community Health Centers suggests that this change has resulted in a  higher incidence of stillbirths and women delivering in clinics instead of hospitals.

Your voice is needed once again!  There are only two days left to introduce a bill to restore prenatal care for all unborn babies.  Please take a moment to call (402) 471-2731 or email Senator Kathy Campbell’s office to thank her for her leadership on this issue and tell her you support legislation to restore prenatal care for all low-income women and their unborn children.  If you are a resident of Senator Campbell’s district,  be sure to let her know that when you call.

We want our legislature to know that these babies have not been forgotten, and that there are many Nebraskans who will continue to speak up on their behalf.  Contact Senator Campbell’s office TODAY and tell her you support further efforts to make sure all Nebraska babies are born healthy.

On Friday, November 19, a Legislative committee met to hear testimony from medical professionals and others on the impact of ending prenatal care under Medicaid for approximately 1,5000 women.

Omaha World-Herald - Prenatal care cuts up for review

Lincoln Journal Star - Lack of Medicaid coverage hurting Nebraska babies

From the Omaha World-Herald, August 19, 2010

State sued over prenatal services

By Paul Hammel

LINCOLN — Eight months pregnant and with a history of gestational diabetes, an Adams County woman faces birth complications and brain and heart defects in her baby.

She went to court Thursday seeking to reverse the state’s decision to end government-paid, prenatal services for illegal immigrants and some other low-income women.

The 38-year-old woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in court documents, is one of about 1,550 pregnant women who lost prenatal services as of March 1.

In a lawsuit filed on behalf of these women, the Nebraska Appleseed Center claimed the state is required to provide such services for unborn children under its Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

The Appleseed Center feared there would be cases like “Doe,” in which poor women, with no prenatal care, would face higher-risk deliveries and greater chances of birth defects for their children, said Becky Gould, the center’s executive director.

For the full story, visit Omaha.com

During the debate over prenatal care this past legislative session, Voices for Children in Nebraska collected data and research on the importance of prenatal care.  With the session over and the struggle to ensure that all soon-to-be Nebraska babies have access to prenatal care on hold during the interim, Voices for Children has complied some of our research into the Prenatal Care Issue Brief.

The 8-page Prenatal Care Issue Brief argues that prenatal care matters for a lifetime by improving life chances for the infant, demonstrates the price that babies pay if they are denied prenatal care, and makes the case that healthy babies is worth the investment of our resources.  As a result, Voices for Children recommends that prenatal care be restored for all soon-to-be Nebraska babies and that coverage should be extended to more low-income women.

The report is available to download from the website or you can request a printed copy by contacting Jill Westfall at Voices for Children in Nebraska (402) 597-3100 or jwestfall @ voicesforchildren.com.

Once you get a chance, let us know what you think about the issue brief in the comments below.

Thank you to all of those who signed on to our letter to Governor Heineman and state legislators – urging them to take action to protect prenatal care in Nebraska so that all Nebraska babies have the opportunity to be born healthy.  We have hand-delivered the letter to their offices in Lincoln this morning, and we have posted the letter and those who have signed on as of noon yesterday.

Sign On Letter to Senators 4-1-10

Sign On Letter to the Governor 4-1-10

Although there are no words to express our disappointment in our state’s leaders for failing to put the health of babies over politics, we must express that it is some small consolation to see the outpouring of support for this cause from Nebraskans across the state.  In just 13 days, over 1,300 people signed on to this letter in support of prenatal care for soon-to-be Nebraska babies – that is over 100 signatures PER DAY.  This is an incredible outpouring of support for this issue.  Thank you for using your voice on behalf of babies born healthy in our state.

We have left the sign-on letter open for the time being, so please sign on if you haven’t already and share it with your friends and family.  We will send Governor Heineman and state legislators an updated copy of the letter at the end of the legislative session.