We're speaking to SisterSong, a nonprofit organization in our state that works and advocates for indigenous and women of color. These are the women in our community who face horrible statistics due to healthcare biases and disparities. They have concerns about the Republicans party's mission to cut Medicaid. Danielle Rodriguez, the Georgia State Coordinator for SisterSong, joins us to speak about the organization's concerns.
When asked how the proposed cuts to Medicaid will impact the women in our state, Rodriguez explains that it will be devastating. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in 2021, the State of Georgia, after Louisiana, had the second highest maternal mortality rate in the United States of 66.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was about twice the national average of 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Georgia is a predominantly rural state. Out of 159 counties in Georgia, 108 counties are rural, 93 counties are “maternity care deserts” without a hospital labor and delivery unit, and 75 counties lack an obstetrician-gynecologist or a nurse midwife.
Rodriguez advises citizens who lose their access to Medicaid should reach out to their elected representatives on the local, state and federal levels. These folks may have access to other options or possibly be able to reinstate your coverage. Rodriguez says to also check the ACA marketplace and make sure the any information you receive is correct.
In response to our state’s numbers around maternal mortality, SisterSong launched the Birth Justice Care Fund. This allows pregnant women in our community to have access to birth doulas who can advocate on their behalf with a healthcare system that can’t seem to keep Black and Brown women alive.
For more information on SisterSong
For more information on the Birth Justice Care Fund