In a video posted on the website of a new Arkansas nonprofit, a woman speaks out of fear to her doctor as she deals with suicidal thoughts and intrusive thoughts in the months after giving birth to her first son. He said he was hesitant to ask for help. Otherwise, her baby will be taken away from her.
Another mother said in the video that during and after her pregnancy, she felt like she had to advocate for herself as a Black woman so that doctors would believe her.
Since announcing its formation in January, Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health has been collecting and sharing the stories of mothers “impacted by poor maternal health.”
“We will spread these stories to raise public awareness, develop champions for change, and promote action to improve access, affordability, and quality of maternal health care,” the organization said in a news release. Stated.
From 2018 to 2021, Arkansas' maternal mortality rate of 43.5 per 100,000 live births was the highest of any state for which it can be reliably calculated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to preliminary data from the CDC, Arkansas had the third-highest infant mortality rate in the country in 2022, with 7.67 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
“We know that behind these statistics there are countless stories from families across the state who have been personally impacted,” said Arkansans to Improve Maternal Health. said Ashley Bearden Campbell, Executive Director.
The group invites people affected by inadequate maternal health care to share their experiences by recording videos or submitting written testimonies on its website, aimforarkansas.org I am calling on you to do so.
In one video, Bearden Campbell told her story of how she gave birth to her daughter Aubrey by emergency C-section in 2022 at 28 weeks and 5 days old.
One nurse noticed signs that she was facing postpartum depression and anxiety, which inspired her to tell her story.
“I want people to know they are not alone,” Bearden-Campbell said.
“I think traditionally there's been a stigma around mental health. There's a lot of pressure on mothers not to talk about things like that, so personal stories can be incredibly impactful. I absolutely believe there is,” she said.
In addition to his nonprofit role, Bearden Campbell is a lobbyist for the Little Rock-based Impact Management Group.
The company's client list, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State's Office, includes the Arkansas Heart Hospital, AmerisourceBergen, several other companies in the health care industry, and the Arkansas Children and Families Advocacy Group.
Bearden Campbell said her role with Arkansans, which seeks to improve maternal health and impact management, is unrelated and that the lobbying firm has no involvement with the nonprofit organization.
The nonprofit organization was incorporated in December and is listed as a tax-exempt nonprofit social services organization under Section 501(c)(4) of the federal tax code, according to records from the Secretary of State's Office.
Compared to 501(c)(3) organizations, 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations have more freedom to engage in lobbying and other political activities; Donations are not tax deductible.
“At this time, we have no plans to lobby AIM,” the nonprofit said in a statement in response to questions from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
The group will advocate for higher reimbursement rates for providers who deliver babies, more funding for medical schools and more in-state residency slots for medical school graduates, according to a news release.
Bearden-Campbell said families, especially those in rural areas, struggle to find hospitals where they can safely deliver their infants.
The March of Dimes report, based on 2022 data, found that 45.3% of Arkansas counties are considered obstetric care deserts, meaning there are no hospitals, midwifery centers, or obstetric health care providers to provide obstetric care. Defined as a county.
Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health will also expand coverage of the state's Medicaid program to pregnant women within 60 days of giving birth, as allowed by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. We also request that the period be 12 months.
Arkansas' eligibility category applies to women with incomes up to 214% of the federal poverty level ($42,200 for a single pregnant woman with no other children).
Otherwise, the income limit in Arkansas for adults who do not fall into another eligibility category due to disability or other reasons is 138% of the poverty level, or $27,213 for a two-person household.
KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, says 44 states and the District of Columbia have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, with three others planning to do so. .
The only states that do not extend coverage to 12 months are Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, and Wisconsin, although Wisconsin extends coverage to 90 days after birth and has a bill that would extend coverage to 12 months. The matter is pending in Congress.
In Arkansas, 44 percent of births are covered by Medicaid, “so it's very important that mothers and children have access to the highest quality health care,” Bearden-Campbell said.
Gavin Resnick, a spokesman for the state Department of Human Services, did not directly answer questions from the Democrat-Gazette about whether Arkansas has plans to extend coverage for pregnant women to 12 months.
Instead, he cited Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' signature education reform bill and another law passed by the Legislature last year.
“Governor Sanders' top priority is the health and safety of all Arkansans, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is working to achieve the same goal through all of its programs,” Resnick said in an email. Ta.
“She expanded maternity leave for teachers through the LEARNS Act and expanded maternity leave for state employees through additional legislation. Governor Sanders and DHS are working hard to protect and improve the quality of life for all Arkansans. We will continue to work with local residents and councilors.”
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