STATEWIDE–Healthcare in Indiana for mothers and babies is getting worse, according to a new study from the March Dames.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, Chief Medical and Health Officer for the March of Dimes, says Indiana gets a C-minus this year.
“For the fourth year in a row, there are more babies being born in the United States too soon,” Gupta said.
Gupta says Indiana has a slightly better rate of insuring expecting mothers than the national average, but costs of preterm births have increased 25{46ff1f14221e6e90aab6104ff16614ca22b12c1f029f774ee196565ca96b3af3} over 15 years to about $53,000 per baby.
In Indiana, the preterm birth rate among black women is 41{46ff1f14221e6e90aab6104ff16614ca22b12c1f029f774ee196565ca96b3af3} higher than the rate among all other women.
Here’s how certain counties in Indiana were graded in the study:
- Hamilton County B (an improvement)
- Elkhart County B- (an improvement)
- Allen County C+ (worsened)
- Lake County C+(an improvement)
- St. Joseph County D+ (an improvement)
- Marion County D- (an improvement)
Indianapolis also received a D-, which the study says was an improvement.
Gupta says the crisis is linked to limited access to healthcare and a spike in chronic health conditions among expecting mothers. He also says March of Dimes recommends extending Medicaid to all women for at least one year postpartum.
“That will help ensure women have the ability to get the best care they can after the birth at the baby,” Gupta said.
Approximately every 12 hours nationwide, a woman dies due to complications resulting from pregnancy and 22,000 babies die every year.
You can see the full study here.
(PHOTO: China Photos/Getty Images)
