Working in street-level social service organizations for better than 30 years I learned that pregnancy adds extraordinary emotional and financial burdens to struggling women and families.
The State of Missouri, of course, remains clueless on how to deal with emotional upheaval but they can respond to financial hardship. Since His Accidency and the rest of the Republican cabal in Jefferson City all claim to be pro-life, I offer some suggestions for things they can do this week (including in the FY2023 budget due Friday) to put money behind their stated beliefs…
- Instantaneous Medicaid Yes, we already have some Presumptive Eligibility but the sign-up process has always been messy and limited to just a segment of the health care community. In light of the end of Roe V. Wade, Missouri needs a simpler system: any licensed health care provider who performs a a pregnancy tests would complete a one-page form with the expectant mom’s name, address and such and, bingo, the test and all subsequent care would be covered by MO HealthNet. A woman could, of course, opt out but the default would be full Medicaid coverage automatically. The form would be sent to MO HealthNet and the staff would have three business days to get the follow-up information they need.
- Every Medical Provider Accepts Now Medicaid No doctor, hospital, pharmacy, physical therapist or any other state licensed medical professional could refuse to provide medical services to Medicaid patients. This should have been made law a long time ago. If Missouri forces women to continue their pregnancies, they get the best care they can find.
- Raise Temporary Assistance to $1,000 Per Family Per Month Or More Today the biggest chunk of block grant funds for TA gets diverted to anti-abortion groups. Since they will no longer be needed, that money – along with a better state draw-down from Washington – can supplement benefits. Remember, this March the average TA benefit was $224 per family. The benefit chart was last upgraded by that notorious liberal spend-a-holic Governor John Ashcroft. Even a gran d a month won’t bring families to the poverty line but it will help a lot. (Of course, impact gr ants for women with extra needs must be availables too.)
- Applying for Medicaid Also Means Applying for Food Stamps and W.I.C. Put a small box on that one-page form. Strong, unchallenged research shows that good nutrition results in healthier babies. The state should again start with the assumption that a mom needs these services, which she can decline if she doesn’t.
- A State-Mandated Eight Weeks of Paid Maternity Leave For All Pregnant Employees It shouldn’t matter of the mom to be makes banana splits at Dairy Queen or is a bank vice president, if the state really is pro-life it must also be pro-mom.
- Six Month Job Hold If a new mom needs or wants more time with her infant, her employer must keep her job available for six months after the child’s birth. Again, Missouri is a pro-family state.
- Enhanced Child Services I was shocked back in the 1980’s when a victim of incest was sent back to the home where the violation occurred by state employees. I was bothered several times over the years when the same policy popped-up. That ain’t right, not even in banjo country rural Missorah. The state’s child services have been a disaster for decades. Now the majority party has an opportunity to turn things around.
- No Fault Schooling Back in the 1980’s I worked at the agency handling W.I.C. [the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants and Children] in St. Louis County. A bright school nurse and a couple of my colleagues decided to have all the pregnant teens come, by school bus, to one of our offices one afternoon a month for their appointments. The group approach was more efficient, doing it during the school day really increased compliance. The great idea lasted one month. The school bus apparently encouraged teen girls to have sex. I read that in Iceland that having kids out of wedlock culturally isn’t an issue. Nor should it be here, and, school districts need to do all that they can to support – not punish – girls required to be pregnant.
This is just a start on defining the New Missouri Way. With their goal line in sight, Missouri Republicans need to spend the last days of this legislative session preparing to help the children and moms they purport to adore. Ante up.
Glenn Koenen