| On July 1, 2004, Governor Linda Lingle signed Senate Bill 2936, RELATING TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PREGNANT LEGAL IMMIGRANTS during a public bill signing event held on the front lawn of the Hawaii State Capitol. The bill authorizes the Hawaii State Department of Human Services to provide state-funded medical assistance to pregnant legal immigrants who have been in the United States for less than five years.
Prior to the enactment of this new law, known as ACT160, low-income pregnant legal immigrants who have been in the United States less than five years had no access to government-sponsored benefits for prenatal health care.
Prenatal care - beginning early and continuing throughout pregnancy - is a key factor in preventing low birth weight and prematurity, which the leading causes of newborn death and many lifelong disabilities, and may also prevent or treat some types of birth defects. Since uninsured women, especially low-income immigrant women, often lack financial assess to prenatal care, they may be at higher risk of poor birth outcomes than the general population. By ensuring prenatal care coverage for this population subgroup, it is felt that Act 160 will assist the State to curb rising rates of low birthweight, preterm birth and subsequent medical complications, as well as some birth defects.
The March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality, testified in support of SB 2936 as part of its ongoing advocacy efforts to eliminate financial and other barriers to prenatal care. The Chapter was represented at the signing ceremony by Prematurity Co-Chair John Henry Felix, who presented Governor Lingle with a lei in appreciation of her support of this issue, Public Affairs Chair Dave Heywood, who presented a lei to Director of the Department of Human Services Lillian Koller. They were accompanied by State Director Carmella Hernandez and Director of Program Services Connie Brunn.
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