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ALERT: PROTECT FLORIDA PRENATAL & INFANT HEALTH CARE
Proposed Cuts Will Cost Far More in Lives and State Funds The Florida House Healthcare Council is considering cutting $3 million services from Healthy Start’s already underfunded prenatal and infant health care program, and rolling back Medicaid eligibility from 185% to 150% of the federal poverty level for pregnant women. Thousands of the state's most vulnerable low-income families - who are facing job losses, foreclosures and a lack of health care coverage during this economic down-turn – will lose critical services. Healthy Start is a long-term health investment that Florida cannot afford to stop making. It saves tremendous costs in state funds for years to come, while saving lives.
(Thanks to Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions for this alert information.)
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Florida must continue to keep Healthy Start services funding for low-income pregnant women and babies in place. This funding represents an investment in primary prevention. A cut of $3 million will mean the loss of direct services to thousands of at-risk families statewide. Healthy Start has been under-funded since it was created in 1991. Local communities have been responsible stewards of limited state resources. Communities have worked to leverage these dollars in the face of 10 years of static state funding. Do not reduce the small increases provided to the program over the last two years. A cut in Healthy Start service dollars will affect the state's most vulnerable families -the same families who are facing job losses, foreclosures and a lack of health care coverage during this economic down-turn. Do not cut services for their unborn children. Please support current funding for Healthy Start. It is the right thing to do for Florida's low-income working families. Saving the lives of babies must remain a state priority even in the leanest of budget years.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
On the Critical List – Florida's Care for Pregnant Women & Babies
Budget Cuts Threaten Healthy Start Services
The Florida House of Representatives' Healthcare Council is considering cutting $3 million in client services from Healthy Start's prenatal and infant health care program. This is part of new money appropriated last year in a two year funding increase beginning in 2006 to increase client services - the first Healthy Start increase since 1992.
Problem
In 2006, Florida had over 1,700 infant deaths and 20,714 low birth weight births. Infant mortality is a key indicator of community health, linked to poverty, education, housing, community and family violence, and access to basic health care. Babies of very low birth weight have a 25 percent chance of dying before age 1. They are at increased risk of health problems, long-term disability and impaired development, at a high cost to everyone.
Healthy Start Program Success
In 1990, the U.S. had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the industrialized world. Florida ranked among the highest with over 1,900 infant deaths from 199,146 live births that year. In 1991, Florida legislated the Healthy Start Program to expand Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, screening all pregnant women and newborns, identifying mothers and babies at-risk. and providing services to those at particular risk and without other access. Florida was recognized for state-wide success in lowering adverse birth outcomes among women in the program. Healthy Start is credited with contributing to a reduction in Florida's infant mortality from 9.6, deaths per 1,000 births, in 1990 to 7.2 in 2006. During 2006, the demand for services increased for both the prenatal and infant populations. An additional 866 pregnant women and 3,323 infants received Healthy Start services.
Conclusion: Healthy Start's Prevention Services Save Lives & Money
To improve Florida's health, access to care and prevention services must be a priority. Investing in prevention programs saves money. For example, funding of $3 million could serve thousands of low-income families, who might otherwise go without care,to prevent poor birth outcomes. If unserved, the resulting outcomes have staggering costs. The average cost of just one very low birth weight baby's hospital stay was $141,350.53 in 2003. It is clear that where Florida has invested resources, we've seen results. Florida must continue to keep Healthy Start services funding for pregnant women and babies in place.
For more information, contact the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions at 407-891-9199.
