Jessica Garvin was a career-driven newlywed when she found out she was pregnant, but she wasn’t thrilled to hear.
“I felt like I had to choose between being successful in my professional life and being a successful mother, but I didn’t want to choose between them,” said Garvin, now a Republican senator in Duncan. rice field.
With strong family support, access to quality health care, and the opportunity to take maternity leave at work, Garvin gave birth to her now 11-year-old son.
Postpartum depression was another challenge she was able to address with family support and mental health care that are often out of reach for many women across the state.
“Abortion wasn’t an option for me because I had the support around me,” Garvin said. There may have been words, which is why I understand why people who feel they can’t possibly see abortions are probably watching.”
Federal protections against abortion ended this year when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, paving the way for Oklahoma’s Republican majority to outlaw abortion procedures. Opponents of the abortion ban saw it as a disenfranchisement for individuals and an additional burden on the local health care system, which had the worst consequences for children and new mothers.
But both abortion rights advocates and supporters of the ban say the coming months will see legislators expand prenatal and postnatal health care services, especially as the number of unplanned pregnancies rises. He said it will be an important time to take steps to
“Oklahoma was already facing a maternal health crisis, so there could never have been a more important time to address this issue.”
Gov. Kevin Stitt, who signed multiple anti-abortion bills this year, agrees that the state’s focus should be on improving support services, including adoption, health care and counseling.
After signing anti-abortion legislation earlier this year, Stitt said, “From the moment life begins in pregnancy, we as humans have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect the life of the baby and the life of the mother.” said.
Governor’s Task Force Recommends Expanding Medicaid Coverage
Last week, a task force created by governors studying ways to improve support for new mothers recommended that states expand their Medicaid programs.
Oklahoma has the lowest income cap for Medicaid pregnancy coverage in the nation, currently limited to pregnant women with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.
According to state estimates, the task force recommended raising the federal poverty level to 205% to cover nearly 2,500 more women.
more:Stitt launches task force aimed at helping families through pregnancy in the post-Roe era
The task force also recommended extending postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months.
Stitt said he supports both recommendations, which require federal approval.
“I guess you could describe it as a beacon of hope[for abortion bans]but we should have done this nonetheless,” said D-Oklahoma City Senator Kari Hicks of the two Medicaid expansion recommendations. Told.
Hicks, who supports abortion rights, created a bill in 2020 to extend postnatal care to one year. Her bill did not go to public hearings.
“I’m really excited[about these proposals]because it’s something I wanted to see two years ago,” Hicks said. “The question in the back of my head is that the opportunity was there and if I had done this sooner, I could have helped even more families.
The ability to expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, called SoonerCare, was made possible thanks to a federal law often criticized by the state’s Republican leaders.
The American Rescue Plan, a legislative package signed by President Joe Biden last year, allows states to extend postpartum coverage up to a year, and at least 36 states have already opted. . According to Kaiser Health News.
The expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, one of former President Barack Obama’s signature policies, has also helped improve birth outcomes in many states, one research firm says. Columbia University School of Social Work 2020 Study.
more:Despite Some Improvements, Oklahoma Remains Low in Child Happiness According to New Report
Oklahoma voters approved the state’s question of expanding Medicaid in 2020, after state officials had long refused to do so.
“When voters passed the expansion, they were showing state leaders that Oklahomans recognize the value of Medicaid and see the value in increasing support for their neighbors, so[state leadership]They’re really following Oklahoma’s precedent,” said Emma Morris, a health analyst at the Oklahoma Policy Institute.
By raising the income level cap for pregnant women to qualify for SoonerCare, Oklahoma will help many states, including Texas, which already has a 203% cap, according to data from the Oklahoma Policy Institute. It will be on par with neighboring states.
Oklahoma has the lowest maternal health insurance coverage in the nation at 70%. According to March of Dimes 2020 report.
Coppenberger, who works for March of Dimes, said both expansions would save the lives of thousands of women, especially those who developed pregnancy-related health complications in the months after giving birth.
“We don’t even know where the 60-day window came from, but 50% of deaths occur beyond the 60-day window,” Coppenbarger said.
MPs likely to discuss crisis centers, contraception and other issues at next session
Duncan State Senator Garvin hopes to see continued efforts in the next legislative session for expanded health care for women and children.
She plans to introduce legislation to ensure that women can use contraception.
“I’m looking at codifying the right to contraception. Instead of just saying, ‘No, you can’t have an abortion,’ say, ‘Yes, you can,'” Garvin said. “I want women to feel comfortable knowing they have access to contraception and not have to worry about whether or not doctors will use it.”
But Garvin recognizes that no matter how hard you try, you’ll face concerns about spending more money.
“When I talked about providing tampons[last year]I had some[congressmen]say, ‘Oh, it’s just another expensive social program,'” Garvin said. “But the reality is that providing women with tampons and sanitary napkins will increase their costs, but how many of them don’t go to the hospital because they aren’t infected? It literally saves you money.”
The two Medicaid expansion proposals will cost $12.3 million annually, with the federal government covering about two-thirds of the cost.
The Oklahoma Department of Health plans to use cash reserves to cover additional costs this fiscal year and “will work with Congress to identify sustainable funding sources for fiscal 2024 and beyond.” said agency spokesperson Melissa Ritchie.
Republican lawmakers also say they want more funding for critical pregnancy centers.
The Oklahoma Pregnancy Care Network, a nonprofit organization based in Oklahoma City, signed an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Health to spend state funds in multiple centers statewide in 2020. It had promised to pour $1.6 million into a number of centers. But an audit by the health ministry this year found that it only scattered about 6% of the forecast, spending three times as much as the fertility center’s salary on its own payroll.
“The level of performance to date is equally concerning as the limited number of women actually receiving services,” the audit said.
more:Oklahoma’s abortion prevention program has pledged to help 9,300 women.spent more on salaries than on aid
Nonprofits have sent more state funds to critical pregnancy centers in recent months, according to records obtained by The Oklahoman.
In June, $91,000 went to seven emergency pregnancy centers.
crisis pregnancy centers, often affiliated with religious groups and opposed to abortion; Found by some to be misinformed about abortion procedures To induce a woman to continue her pregnancy.
Hicks, a Democratic senator from Oklahoma City, said the state’s focus should be on health care funding and state-based programs.
“I hope to see some policies that can improve care, but I fear that in the short term[by decriminalizing abortion]we are making things worse,” he said. Hicks said.
Hicks hopes to see more proposals in this legislative session to try to improve health care, but he’s also worried about legislation that could try to limit contraception, and some lawmakers continue to make it difficult for schools to participate in topics such as sex education, topics that the It was featured in this year’s election campaign.
“It’s about improving access to health care, but it’s also about increasing women’s financial independence and financial independence and improving their education in schools,” Hicks said. If you’re serious about your mother’s life, you need to do all this now.”
