Improving birth rates is a declared priority for the president Donald TrumpManagement – but she suggested Budget discounts It can make it difficult for many Americans to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Last week, a house Republicans Tightly Pass The budget decision, which calls for a reduction of 880 billion dollars to the budget of the Ministry of Health and Humanitarian Services for 10 years. The proposed plan does not explicitly call for medicaid discounts, but it will be impossible To achieve this level of savings without slimming in the program; Trump promised not to touch medical care but did not extend the same protection to Medicaid, which provided healthcare coverage to more than 72 million people in October 2024.
If Medicaid coverage is reduced or reduced, there will be “deep” effects on the results of the mother and infants. Newsweek, “There is no doubt.”
More than 40 percent of American births were covered by Medicaid in 2023, according to the Independent Health Policy Research Organization KFF. In some states, this share is much higher – like Louisiana, where 64 percent of births are funded by the program.
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There are known differences in mother and infants, and our fear is that we will see this gap expansion [if Medicaid coverage is cut]Olrei, an OB-GYN, said, especially for our most vulnerable patients, who are black and brown patients, or rural families and those who suffer from low income. “
Newsweek spoke with many OB-Gyns and clinical heads in Kassab facilities Five out of five strips Our on our The best maternity hospitals in AmericaSpecified in partnership with the Statista data company. Each of them shared the fears of Oliri – and her feeling of urgency.
Why is medicaid a vital thing to care for motherhood?
Depending on the region, anywhere from a quarter to two -thirds of children are delivered under Medicaid and relying on this coverage throughout their childhood, according to the data that the leading motherhood hospitals share with it. Newsweek.
Healthcare in the United States belovedBut maternity care is especially expensive – for our government, health systems, insurance companies and individuals alike. Live births are the most common a reason To hold the hospital for internal patients. Without insurance, the average Assign The birth is $ 18,865. (This number jumps to $ 26,280 if the child is delivered by the Caesarean section.)
Olieri said it would be “very difficult” for someone to pay the price of his pregnancy from his pocket if medical aid coverage is canceled.
For normal pregnancy without complications, mothers are encouraged to visit OB-GYN between 10 and 15 times. Each of these visits carry a cost, along with the price of any required photography or medications. Complications occur after pregnancy as well. When the infant is born under Midikid frames, his mandate must provide coverage for the first 12 months of their lives and to finance the expenses related to pregnancy for at least 60 days after birth.
These visits before and after pregnancy to ensure the best possible results for both the mother and the child, said Dr. Erika Werner, OB-GYN and the head of the Doctors Organization at Tuffs Medicine, said, Newsweek. But even before pregnancy, access to good health care can improve the possibility of smooth birth and a healthy baby.
“We have learned a lot over the past decade about how important it is to enter the pregnancy in good health and choose the timing of pregnancy to suit your health.” “I am concerned that people will not be able to reach preventive care in pregnancy [if the program is cut]”
Dr. Daniel Roth, Executive Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations and Society at Trinity Health, chanted this anxiety.
And he told Newsweek. “Strong prenatal care makes a difference, and it really depends on arrival.”
He continued: “If you do not have access to these services, you do not benefit from them.”
How can Medicaid harm health care?
Historically, research Ruth said that people are less likely to access health care services when these services are unreasonable. Medical aid expansion under reasonable prices has improved the use of health care services-and when care is more affordable, the low-income population KFF analysis.
Coverage expansion was also linked to a 17 percent reduction in hospitals during the first 60 days after birth, according to a study conducted in 2023 published in the academic magazine. Health affairs.
It is the mother’s instinct to want to have the best care for your future child. But if you expect families to lose Medicaid coverage, they may have to choose between paying the OB-GYN visiting price or putting food on the table.
“We believe – and history tells us – that if you reduce people [health care] “They will not only come to these services. This will not only make their care and delivery more complicated, but their results are more challenging.”
This can also add to the escalating financial stress in maternity hospitals throughout the country, and the leaders of the health system agreed. More than 100 American hospitals have closed Their obstetric units since 2022, often cited economic pressure and the decline in demand.
One of the problems is that the service rates of the service for the service are “largely sufficient”, according to Dr. Joseph Jobren, head of the OB-GYN department in Main Line Health. Often, maternity services are sacrificed first when the health system fights financially.
Jobarne told “Jubran” Newsweek. “We are still providing high -quality care and determination of efficiency in doing this, but it is in fact a non -sustainable rate to provide safe care for maternity.”
As the interests of maternity hospitals, 1 in 12 American women find themselves in “maternity care deserts” with no access to care. In 2024, more than 35 percent of American provinces were considered deserts. Pregnant women who live there should travel there to receive care, which leads to increased demand and long waiting times in the remaining facilities.
You can feel the state’s payment programs Tamulization effect Of the discounts, Dr. Margori Besel, the chief clinical official in Banner Health, told Newsweek. These funds increase the lower payment of care providers for Medicaid services, without them, health systems may be severe to continue financing maternity care at their current rates.
It will be great repercussions. Banner Health 36,000 children annually offer their six -country imprint, and all of these matters can be affected if government coverage decreases, “Think about the number of kindergarten classes that are!”
She said: “If Medicaid constitutes a large percentage of the patient’s patients that you care about, and you should reduce or dispose of programs, which not only affect those who have medicaid insurance.” “This will also affect other individuals, including those who may be commercial believers.”
Under the medical treatment law in emergency and work, emergency departments must treat or stabilize anyone who walks in its doors, regardless of his ability to pay. Care must be provided, whether Medicaid will pay for it or not. This may mean more Delivery In the emergency room – for any hospitals you will take a bill.
“In the end, we all pay when people have no coverage.”
