Agency to focus on mothers and babies

Center aims to improve options for health care

By: Katie Sobko
Trenton Bureau
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... New Jersey is taking steps to improve women's health care options, and state government has established the New Jersey Health Innovation Authority.
..... At an event Monday [07/17/2023] morning in Trenton, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation to cerate the new agency and open a state Maternal and Infant Heath Innovation Center in Trenton.
..... although the governor and his Democratic colleagues in the Legislature were responsible for the legislation's passage, Murphy was quick to give credit to his wife, first lady Tammy Murphy, who has made maternal health care a priority throughout his administration.
..... He outlined what the center will do to drive policy related to maternal health care services. Murphy noted that Trenton does not have a birthing center but does have "one of the widest disparates in maternal and infant mortalities between white mothers and babies and Black and brown mothers and babies."
..... Tammy Murphy first launched the Nurture NJ initiative in 2019. The statewide program has worked to reduce the maternal and infant mortality epidemic in New Jersey and to ensure equitable health care among women and children of all races and ethnicities.
..... In remarks at Monday's [07/17/2023] announcement, the first lady noted that this is the 44th piece of maternal health legislation signed during the Murphy administration and pointed to progress that has been made since 2018, including a jump from 47th to 29th in the national ranking.
..... "We all feel an insensitive need to protect our mothers and babies, a need to ensure that every family begins its life together in health, wellness and joy, and I am beyond proud to see New Jersey lead this effort to improve the lives of mothers and babies here in our state and across the country for generations to come," Tammy Murphy said.
..... State Senator Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, called it a great day not just for Trenton but for the state, the country and even the world because of what she said she sees as the new center's potential. she noted that mortality rates have increased across the country, that women "do not become mothers" but rater "statistics," and that resources like this are the "right path for reversing that trend."
..... "Motherhood is one of the most powerful experiences that women have and share. However, far too often for women in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, a lack of care during pregnancies, a lack of resources or an inferior level of care prevent all women from ever having that experience," Turner said.
..... The authority is the first of its kind in the country. It will be led by a 15-member board as well as a president and chief executive officer. The board will adopt recommendation for action to reduce maternal mortality, morbidity and disparates from the New Jersey Maternal Care quality collaborative. A community advisory committee will also support and inform the work of the authority, officials said. That committee will include diverse community groups with relevant experience as providers or recipients of maternal, infant and child health services.
..... The governor called the authority necessary because 22 different elements of government are involved, so a "central holding place" is needed.
..... This new authority comes with a price tag. Murphy sad that through the Economic Development Authority in this year's [2024] budget, $2.2 million was appropriated to set up the new agency and $30 million was allocated for capital projects. he said $20 million was committed to the project last year [2023] and that the state has applied for a $25 million federal grant to further support the new authority and center.

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