How Women’s Health Fared During This Year’s Legislative Session

Women’s health has been bolstered by law this year, much of it focused on pregnancy and childbirth and domestic violence. But a handful of measures that have had a significant impact on women’s safety and access to health care have failed.

Here’s a rundown of what made it out of the Capitol – and what didn’t.

Pregnancy, childbirth and feminine hygiene

A new law aimed at reducing the high maternal and child mortality rates in Louisiana requires all health insurance policies in Louisiana to cover midwives. The law also establishes a state board for doulas – birth experts who help women through pregnancy, childbirth, and the first few days of new parenting.

“It’s about cutting the infant mortality rate, the high number of caesarean sections we have, the high number of low birth weight babies,” said Matthew Willard, Rep., Who wrote Act 182, which Governor John Bel Edwards signed this week.

Many health insurance companies in the state already offer coverage to midwives, Willard added, but until now this has not been a legal requirement. The law also helps midwives get higher pay.

The Louisiana Doula Registry Board, created by law, lays the groundwork for future doulas inclusion in health coverage, Willard said.

Two tax measures awaiting the governor’s signature address childbirth tragedies.

HB 146, authored by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, creates a tax credit of $ 2,000 for mothers of stillborn babies. HB 301 from Rep. Mandie Landry creates a refundable tax credit for the funeral expenses of a woman who dies of pregnancy complications.

The legislature has abolished the so-called “pink tax”. HB 7 of Rep. Amiee Adatto Freeman ends state sales tax on feminine hygiene products and diapers – a move the Democrats proposed and failed to pass in previous sessions.

But another Landry bill that would have dramatically increased bedtime care for the poorest women in the state failed.

HB 468 would have extended Medicaid coverage from the current 60 days to 12 months after the birth. It was backed by gynecologists and maternal health experts in the state, but didn’t make it out of the Senate Finance Committee.

Domestic violence

Legislators passed a bill that focused on helping people exposed to domestic violence, but left behind a separate bill that proponents say would have helped victims of abuse.

HB 55 facilitates the application for an injunction in the case of domestic violence. Instead of requiring an affidavit to be signed in front of a notary, a person can now sign a written confirmation. It was rejected by the Louisiana arm of the National Rifle Association.

But a measure to expand the definition of domestic violence failed after resistance from the gun lobby and a confrontation in the House of Representatives.

HB 159 was sponsored by Rep. Malinda B. White, a domestic violence survivor. It was intended to help people seek protection orders before experiencing physical violence, and advocates said it would have made nonviolent behaviors such as coercion, control and intimidation, and demanding vengeance, part of the definition of domestic violence if they had prevented the victim from escaping the relationship.

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/how-womens-health-fared-during-this-years-legislative-session/