Legislators file bill to help moms with maternal care in the state

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Representative Kim Moser the chair of the Kentucky House Committee on health service, introduced a bill that would improve maternal care in Kentucky on Wednesday.

Rep. Moser introducing House Bill 10, she says pregnant mothers and new mothers die at a higher rate in kentucky than 48 other states, with kentucky having the second highest mortality rate in the nation.

The bill would help establish the Kentucky Maternal Psychiatry Access Program, which would be known as the Kentucky Lifeline for Moms.

Some of the causes of maternal death in the U.S. include, a lack of access to health care, including a shortage of caregivers, a lack of insurance, inadequate postpartum support and socio-economic disparities.

In Kentucky, 45.8% of counties are defined as maternity care deserts.

It’s important to note that maternal mortality is a key indicator of the state’s health and has a long term impact on other health related factors such as infant mortality to reduce maternal mortality. Kentucky intends to promote optimal health before during and after pregnancy, this includes addressing healthy nutrition, chronicle health conditions, substance use, health equity, social deterrence of health, pregnant prenatal care and early elective deliveries,” says Rep. Nancy Tate, who is also helping co-sponsor the bill.

The bill would also help establish a hotline that would help health care practitioners help mothers with a mental illness or an intellectual disability have access for services.