New York has a program that allows women not to pay for childbirth, but they want to cancel it

Shaunte Turner is a member of 32BJ SEIU and works in the cleaning department at Madison Square Garden. She spoke about how difficult it is to pay bills for childbirth in New York. In his article Gotham Gazette she talked about the HEAL program, which would help many moms in New York.

When I gave birth to my first child, I could not believe how expensive it is to give birth. Thankfully, I didn't have any complications, but the bills associated with my short stay in the hospital added up and exacerbated the financial burden of caring for my newborn baby.

Eighteen years later, I was pregnant with my third child and feared the costs would again be too high for me. But this time I was able to participate in the SEIU 32BJ Health Foundation Maternity Welfare Program in partnership with Mt Sinai and my experience is 180 degrees different from what happened almost twenty years ago.

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Every dollar of my prenatal and postnatal care was covered. I didn't pay any hospital bills out of my own pocket, which was a huge relief, both emotionally and financially. My baby and I are happy and healthy, and now I can focus on saving for his future.

Unfortunately, not all New York moms are so lucky.

In response to alarming statistics about the dangers of childbirth in New York City, the Health Foundation was forced to create its maternity program in 2020. About 100 women die per 000 cases in our state each year. This figure exceeds that of the rest of the country, which already lags far behind other developed countries in this important category. And this is especially dangerous for women of color. black women more than twice are more likely to experience life-threatening complications during or after childbirth and eight times are more likely to die of pregnancy-related death.

Even when the pregnancy is healthy and without complications, having a baby is still incredibly expensive. The cost of giving birth can vary greatly depending on where you live, according to an analysis by the New York State Health Foundation. This is another reason why 32BJ's free maternity program is so important and beneficial for working moms.

It seems logical that a program with a proven track record and lifesaving potential should be expanded and replicated in all five boroughs so that more mothers like me can benefit. But NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP), one of the city's largest hospital systems, has threatened the very existence of the program. New York wanted the Foundation to either terminate the program to eliminate competition from other facilities, or allow NYP to offer it without guaranteeing the high standards that make the program so special.

HEAL will help reduce out-of-control prices

New legislation passed in Albany Hospital Equity and Accessibility Act (HEAL), will help reduce out-of-control prices in hospitals and curb anti-competitive contracting practices used by hospital leaders who block access to innovative medical care, such as the Maternity Program. Once passed and signed into law, HEAL will allow the Health Fund to expand access to the program and develop a blueprint for other self-insurance funds that will operate in hospitals across the state.

At a time when parents should be celebrating and caring for newborns, too many are worrying about how to pay their hospital bills instead. Having a baby and caring for it is quite stressful. More moms should be able to enjoy the joy in their lives. Without having to pay a single cent for the highest possible quality of care.

It is high time for the state to do all it can to improve outcomes for moms and babies—especially moms of color. They face unnecessary and life-threatening problems while giving birth in New York. Implementing HEAL would be a good first step. I hope the state legislators and the governor act during this legislative session so that more mothers can get the care they need and deserve.