SPONSOR: Haefner
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Health and Mental Health Policy by a vote of 9 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Rules- Administrative Oversight Committee by a vote of 13 to 0.
This bill extends MO HealthNet benefits for pregnant women until the end of the one-year period beginning on the last day of her pregnancy, but only if the woman is receiving substance abuse treatment within 60 days of giving birth.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that treatment for substance abuse is important for new mothers because postpartum depression may cause the women to self-medicate with controlled substances. A mother without substance abuse treatment is more likely to engage in child abuse or hostile parenting and newborns are extremely vulnerable; treatment improves parenting and development of the child. Substance abuse treatment is cheaper in the long run compared to treating overdoses or other complications of substance abuse.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Haefner; Cynthia Rogers, MD, St. Louis Children's Hospital; March of Dimes; Helen Risse, Our Lady's Inn; Heidi Geisbuhler, Missouri State Medical Association; Naral Pro-Choice Missouri; Campaign Life Missouri; Jaye M. Shyken, MD; Jerri Michael,Lora Gulley, and Aver Yakubu, Generate Health; Sarah Oerther; Missouri Family Health Council; Missouri Catholic Conference; Tim O'Connor MD; Wayne Lee; Shawn D'Abreau, Missouri Healthcare For All; Missouri Association of Rural Health Clinics; Dina Van Der Zalm, Missouri Rural Crisis Center; Missouri Section American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Kelsey Thompson, Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Melinda Ohlemiller, Nurses For Newborns; Missouri Nurses Association; Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri; and Matthew Stinson.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Statutes affected: 208.151