Republican Senator files bill to address Missouri’s high maternal mortality

Missouri has the 8th highest maternal deaths in the country. A bill filed in the upcoming legislative session would extend postpartum care for low-income women.
In May, a bipartisan proposal to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage for low-income women in Missouri to a full year after they’ve given birth was close to gaining approval from the state legislature.

But as the legislative session came to a close, the bill became collateral damage in the Republican Party’s bitter infighting, between the seven-member conservative caucus and the 17 Republicans generally aligned with leadership.

On Thursday, Republican Sen. Elaine Gannon of De Soto again filed the proposal, aslegislative pre-filing opened.

“Taking care of Missouri’s most vulnerable population is an issue we should all be able to support,” Gannon said in a press release. “I look forward to getting the bill across the finish line this year and taking care of Missouri’s mothers and their children.”