Women's Health Day hopes to expand Medicaid coverage

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Barbara O'Brien said childbirth can be a risky time for women in Oklahoma. The director of the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative said Medicaid offered to women could improve that.

"They can't be on Medicaid before pregnancy or between pregnancy so any kind of health conditions they may have, they're not able to access health care at those times," O'Brien said.

She's hoping more women can remain on Medicaid longer so they have a greater chance of having a healthy delivery and a healthy baby.

The March of Dimes said last year in Oklahoma, 360 infants and 12 mothers died as a result of childbirth.

"Ensuring a woman is healthy when she's pregnant then that can improve the outcomes, not only for her, but for her baby, their entire lifespan," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said there continues to be an issue in our rural communities. That's where Medicaid expansion may be able to help the most.

"Our rural hospitals are having challenges with staying in a cash-positive place because of their patients not having insurance coverage," O'Brien said.

Senator George Young took part in some of the health day events at the Capitol. He said expanding many programs like Medicaid can have a positive impact on women's health.

"We've got to get in the community, talk to folks, get them to understand there are already programs in existence," Young said. "It's not all we can do, but there are programs that exist."

O'Brien said she hopes lawmakers can find avenues for funding Medicaid that partially includes federal money that is available.