N.Y. Gov. Hochul signs new legislation for expecting mothers: Here’s what you need to know

Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to improve care for expectant mothers, increase access to maternal healthcare information, and cover necessary medical tests through Medicaid.

RELATED: New York is the first state to offer paid leave for prenatal treatment for expectant mothers.

According to Hochul, the unfortunate reality is that there is a maternal health crisis in our country. By enacting new legislation and enacting audacious policies to safeguard the health and welfare of mothers and infants, we in New York are confronting that crisis head-on.

The National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC reported that the maternal death rate in the United States decreased from 32.9 per 100,000 in 2021 to 22.3 per 100,000 in 2022.

The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income nations, notwithstanding this drop.

In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to die during pregnancy. According to data from the New York State Department of Health, Black non-Hispanic women have a five-fold higher risk of dying during pregnancy than do white non-Hispanic women.

Enhancing maternity care for expectant moms is the goal of the two new measures that Hochul signed. The first helps new moms make educated decisions about their care by increasing their knowledge of safety drills for obstetric emergencies and the transfer of critically sick pregnant women and infants. The second offers Medicaid coverage for fetal non-stress tests and remote ultrasounds to evaluate the baby’s health.

We are aware of the critical role prenatal care plays in improving maternal health outcomes. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin stated, “We also know how important telemedicine is for those who struggle with cost barriers or who live in healthcare deserts.” For moms and infants in New York, this new law will help remove those obstacles, improve access to treatment, and eventually lead to better health outcomes.

According to a recent report published by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization devoted to enhancing the health of expectant mothers and their unborn children, access to prenatal care is steadily declining nationwide.

Maternity care deserts, which are regions with little to no access to obstetric doctors, birthing hospitals, or birth centers, currently make up more than one-third of all counties in the United States. According to the report, these regions affect around 150,000 births and more than 2.3 million women of reproductive age in the US.

Hochul’s executive budget for fiscal year 2025 featured a first-in-nation paid prenatal leave program in addition to the two new pieces of legislation. On top of their current sick leave, pregnant women in private employment will receive an extra 20 hours of paid sick leave for prenatal care beginning January 1, 2025.

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