Advocacy Network
The Advocacy Network is made up of volunteers and staff who promote the March of Dimes mission agenda by contacting the governor and state legislators in response to Chapter action alerts. This year's issues and priorities include those described above. 

 

New York State Senate Passes Prenatal Care Assistance Program reform legislation:

Over the past two years, the March of Dimes has worked closely with the Department of Health in their efforts to redraft New York State’s Medicaid Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP).  This legislation will ensure, regardless of economic status or geographic location, low income pregnant women throughout New York State will receive high quality maternity care.  This bill will bring New York closer to meeting the “Healthy People 2010” goals by making such care available to low income women.

On Thursday, September 10, the New York State Senate passed the PCAP reform legislation.  Having passed the Assembly earlier this year, the bill will now be forwarded to the Governor for his approval.  The Public Affairs Committee has also identified an opportunity to reiterate the importance of linking vital maternal/infant health data within the dialogue of PCAP reforms.  The March of Dimes will write a letter to the Governor supporting the legislation, emphasizing the need for linking data, and urging him to sign the bill into law. 

For more information on how to be involve with the New York State Advocacy Network, contact:

Aisha Tator
State Director of Public Affairs
March of Dimes Northeastern New York
518-453-0474

Recent Advocacy Wins in New York State

Newborn Screening
In 2001, New York became one of the first states to require that all newborns be screened at birth for 29 treatable metabolic and functional disorders as recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and endorsed by the March of Dimes and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Screening for treatable conditions immediately after birth can mean the difference between a healthy life or a severe disability or even death for a newborn. Tragedy can be avoided by quickly identifying a problem and providing the necessary medical treatment. Today the program continues fully funded.

Recently, in a join effort between March of Dimes, Hunter's Hope and Save Babis Through Screening Foundation this past April, and after making a final lobbying push in Washington, D.C. from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly, the President signed the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act into law.

CHIPS
The United States Senate and House of Representatives have approved the Children’s Health Insurance Act of 2000. The legislation includes several provisions that further the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of infants and children by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. This win could not have happened without the advocacy of efforts of so many volunteers in the State and the Nation that sent emails and made phone calls to their local representatives.

On the State level March of Dimes issues remained intact or funded at the same levels despite the budget deficit the State is facing. Newborn screening, increased children’s health insurance and Medicaid programs that serve women and children were not affected by the recent rounds of budgets cuts. However, we will continue to monitor benefits offered under the Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). Last, the March of Dimes is continuing to forge ahead with the State Health Department to meet and to discuss data collection and distribution. This effort is part of the prematurity bill the March of Dimes supports.

NICU Family Support
State Senator John Flanagan once again funded the Stony Brook NICU Family Support for $35,000. He is very pleased with the program, the outreach and families it serves on Long Island and the cost benefits. This partnership with Stony Brook University Medical Center provides information and confort to families with premature and other critically ill infants being cared for in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and is only one of three of its kind in New York State (Albany Medical Center in Albany and Montefiore Medical Center in Manhattan).