Arizona Advocacy Issues and Priorities
March of Dimes Arizona Chapter 2008 Legislative Agenda
Maintain eligibility for maternity/prenatal care health coverage for Arizona’s low income pregnant women
It is estimated that 1,128 working poor pregnant women would be cut from the state program and not receive prenatal care if the legislature decides to reduce the income eligibility level for currently qualified pregnant women from 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 133% of the FPL. Reducing Arizona’s current level of prenatal care health coverage will potentially increase the number of premature births by well over 100. Prevention of premature births will result in cost savings to the state far exceeding the cost of providing prenatal care to this population of women.
Maintain the Arizona Department of Health Services High Risk Perinatal Program
The Arizona High Risk Perinatal Program system of services has effectively responded to high-risk pregnancies and deliveries and significantly reduced maternal and infant mortality and illness and the costs associated with them. The program provides a safety net for Arizona families and its most fragile newborns, and ensures the most appropriate level of care surrounding birth as well as early identification and support for the child’s developmental needs. This includes services such as Community Nursing Home Visits and maternal/neonatal transport to a higher level of care and back again to their community of residence. Without Community Nursing Home Visits, families with medically fragile babies will not receive the education and support needed to provide the specialized care required by their child, resulting in significant developmental and functional impairment.
Maintain KidsCare at its current level
The KidsCare program, also referred to as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provides health coverage to children in families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL). As of December 2007, 64,115 children were enrolled in the KidsCare program. If the legislature approves its current recommendation to reduce KidsCare income eligibility limit from 200% to 175% FPL it will reduce the number of KidsCare children enrollees by 30%, or 19,235 children.
Support House Bill 2521, introduced by Representative Nancy Barto
This bill permits the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Arizona Early Intervention Program in the Department of Economic Security to use birth defects surveillance data to notify the families of children with birth defects regarding services that are available to them and provide information about organizations that deliver services to these children and their families. It also allows ADHS to authorize other organizations besides county health departments to distribute folic acid supplements, which prevent certain birth defects, and provide counseling and information services.
