No Expansion of Pre-Natal Care
Air Date:01/31/2011
Lawmakers have killed a bill that expands Medicaid pre-natal coverage for pregnant women. As SDPB'S Charles Michael Ray reports women who are within 133 percent of the poverty level are currently eligible for coverage. The bill expanded the pool of those eligible to 167 percent of the poverty level.
Republican Senator Tim Rave opposes expanding pre-natal care saying the budget crisis requires cutbacks.
"We do not have the money in this climate to do this endeavor and frankly there are not many things more difficult to speak against pregnant women," says Rave
On the other side of the issue Republican Senator Jim Bradford supports the legislation, saying expanding pre natal care will save lives of newborn babies and save money in the long run.
"It's kind of sad we're putting a price on children's lives - because we are - we're putting a price on children who are going to die," says Bradford.
The bill failed to pass out of committee by a vote of six to one.
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