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| Presented By Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
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| Axios Vitals |
| By Tina Reed · May 20, 2022 |
| 😎 Happy Friday, Vitals readers. Today's newsletter is 813 words or a 3-minute read. |
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| 1 big thing: Red states aren't prepared for a post-Roe baby boom |
 Data: March of Dimes; Map: Jacque Schrag/Axios The red states poised to ban or severely limit abortion already tend to have limited access to health care, poor health outcomes and fewer safety net programs in place for mothers and children, Axios' Caitlin Owens writes. Why it matters: If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, as it's expected to, the ensuing increase in births will likely leave families in tough circumstances and strain systems that are already hanging by a thread. Where it stands: Experts say there's already a growing shortage of obstetricians. - In 2020, more than 2 million women of childbearing age lived in counties that had no hospital offering obstetric care, no birth center and no obstetric provider, according to a report by March of Dimes.
- Millions more lived in areas with limited access to care.
- Red states in the middle of the country — many of which will automatically ban abortion if Roe is overturned — are particularly likely to have a high number of maternity care deserts.
States with more abortion restrictions also tend to have higher maternal mortality rates and worse health care outcomes generally. - Experts say abortion bans would also likely put more pressure on U.S. foster and adoption systems.
The bottom line: "What we're facing as a country is hundreds of thousands of births, probably disproportionately located in the states that have been most limited in what they do for pregnant women, infants and children. So this is the great paradox that we are dealing with," said Sara Rosenbaum, a health law and policy professor at George Washington University. - "We have not ever designed these programs for a world without Roe," she added. "You need a child welfare system, the likes of which we've never seen."
Read the rest. |
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| 2. Medicaid expanding maternity coverage |
| More states are expanding Medicaid coverage of maternity services for low-income women, including lengthening the postpartum coverage period, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes about a new Kaiser Family Foundation report. Why it matters: Medicaid pays for more than four in 10 births in the U.S., but coverage can be short-lived for women, ending after 60 days postpartum. - Rising rates of pregnancy related deaths, especially in Black and Native American communities, have drawn more attention to the patchwork of maternal health standards.
What they're saying: More than half of states have taken recent steps toward lengthening the postpartum coverage period beyond 60 days, including some states that haven't opted to extend Medicaid benefits to all adults under the Affordable Care Act. - More than half the states cover home births under Medicaid — an option that's gained more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Coverage for services outside of medical settings is mixed, with most states paying for home visits but limiting coverage for educational classes and home-base lactation consultations.
- Very few states offer any coverage for fertility assistance services.
- 11 states are considering adding doula services as a covered benefit.
- Eight states have initiatives to address substance use or mental health services for pregnant or postpartum beneficiaries.
The findings cover 41 states and the District of Columbia and address benefits implemented as of July 1, 2021. |
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| 3. Pedestrian deaths hit a 40-year high |
 Pedestrian deaths reached a 40-year high last year, according to preliminary data from the Governors Highway Safety Association, Axios' Erin Doherty reports. - By the numbers: Drivers struck and killed more than 7,400 people in 2021, and the percentage of children killed by speeding drivers more than doubled since 2018.
Go deeper. |
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| A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
| Addressing inequities in mental health care |
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| Data shows that people of color are under-diagnosed with major depression. What you need to know: This Mental Health Awareness Month, see what Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are doing to tailor mental health resources and improve access to care for all, no matter the color of your skin. |
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| 4. Formula shortage also impacts special needs |
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| Keely Aguilar gets her 11-year-old daughter Natalyah ready for bed. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images |
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| As a nationwide shortage of baby formula continues, it's having a domino effect on supplies of formulas for people with special nutritional needs that require life-saving medical nutrition. Why it matters: It's an example of the wide-reaching implications of infant formula crisis. - For instance, single mother and Santa Rosa, California, small business owner Keely Aguilar has been struggling to find formula for her 11-year-old daughter Natalyah who has the extremely rare genetic condition known as Bainbridge–Ropers syndrome.
- Natalyah cannot eat regular food and relies on a special formula to survive. Keely only has a one-week supply remaining as she continues to look for formula in other states.
Driving the news: On Thursday, FDA commissioner Robert Califf said formula will likely become more available within weeks after the Biden administration invoked the Defense Production Act. - The Senate on Thursday approved legislation to expand the kind of formula that can be purchased using the federal food aid program for women and babies, the New York Times reports.
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| 5. Dog of the week |
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| Sundae. Photo: Dawn Dalili. |
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| Meet Sundae, an Aussiedoodle, pictured with his gosling buddy named Friday. These names are so good. - "His gentle demeanor is what makes him the best. We've had a couple of rescue animals: The gosling pictured here and, before that, a baby squirrel. He was never aggressive with them," writes his human Dawn Dalili, a naturopathic physician in Missoula, Montana.
- "Like a babysitter, he would follow them around the yard and keep them from falling into the stream or getting close to our neighbors' cat."
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| A message from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
| Addressing inequities in mental health care |
| |
 |
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| Data shows that people of color are under-diagnosed with major depression. What you need to know: This Mental Health Awareness Month, see what Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are doing to tailor mental health resources and improve access to care for all, no matter the color of your skin. |
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 | It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications. | | |
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