Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded $8 million to a Bronx health care facility on Monday to expand its maternal care services, part of her efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality across the state.
The governor granted the funds to Morris Heights Health Center, located in University Heights, to build a maternal health Center of Excellence. The facility already offers doula services and helps mothers sign up for public nutrition assistance to address health needs during and after pregnancy; state funding is meant to expand those offerings.
Morris Heights Health Center provides care to at-risk groups, including pregnant people with HIV, low-income individuals and mothers with high-risk chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Hochul announced the funding at a roundtable event at Bronx Borough Hall, joined by local elected officials including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
Funding for maternal health care is one of the governor’s approaches to reduce stark racial disparities in maternal deaths. Black mothers in New York die at five times the rate of white mothers, and disparities in the city are even greater with Black birthing people dying at nine times the rate.
Similar racial gaps are observed in infant mortality rates nationwide. Black babies in the U.S. die at more than double the rate of white babies, according to federal data.
Hochul passed a few measures in the state budget to expand maternal health care, including making New York the first state to offer prenatal medical leave. She’s also attempted to broaden access to doulas, a model of care that she deemed “indispensable.” The Medicaid program started covering doula services for all enrollees as of March 1.
The governor’s efforts to improve doula services were augmented by a ruling from state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald on Monday, who issued a standing order to ensure birthing people had access to doula care. The order cements Hochul’s recent policy to offer doula care through Medicaid and allows enrollees to access care without a physician referral.
Amanda D'Ambrosio , 2024-06-11 11:33:04
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