***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022***
Today, Protect Our Care will host events in three states to discuss how Congress has a real opportunity to improve the health of moms and children through bipartisan, affordable, and commonsense solutions. A new Public Policy Polling survey finds overwhelming public support for a series of reforms that will improve the health of millions of children, pregnant women, and moms, particularly people of color and rural Americans.
The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized country and 80 percent of deaths are entirely preventable. The burden of this crisis disproportionately falls on people of color and rural Americans. Now, Congress has a critical opportunity to address maternal mortality and save lives. Speakers will call on Congress to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, which addresses key and preventable elements of the maternal health crisis, including addressing the social determinants of health contributing to maternal mortality, strengthening the perinatal workforce, and providing health care workers with the tools and training necessary to confront discriminatory and biased practices.
Additionally, speakers will highlight the importance of protecting and strengthening Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure mothers and children across the country receive the health care needed to thrive. To do this, Congress should require 12 months of Medicaid coverage for moms, guarantee 12 months of coverage in Medicaid and CHIP for children, and permanently reauthorize CHIP funding.
OHIO
WHO:
Health care advocate Celeste Smith
Ohio Program Director, Crystal Lett
Healthy Lucas County CHIP Chair, Erika White
Pastor Jerome Hurst
WHERE: Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required)
WHEN: Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 10:30 AM EST
PENNSYLVANIA
WHO:
Michael Berman, Protect Our Care Pennsylvania
Ann Bacharach, Pennsylvania Health Access Network
Kate Moran, Delaware County resident, who has personal experience using CHIP
Sara Jann, Maternity Care Coalition
WHERE: Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required)
WHEN: December 15, 2022, at 3 PM EST
ALASKA
WHO:
Trevor Storrs, President and CEO of Alaska Children’s Trust
Laura Norton Cruz, Health Care Advocate
Judy Jessen, Health Care Advocate
Rose O’Hara-Jolley, Alaska State Director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
WHERE: Register to join the Zoom event (Registration required)
WHEN: December 15, 2022, at 10 AM AKST