LINCOLN — Saying Nebraska was playing “Russian roulette” with the health of unborn babies, a coalition of religious, anti-abortion and health groups called on state lawmakers Tuesday to restore government-funded prenatal coverage for poor women, including illegal immigrants.
The lack of such prenatal doctor visits, advocates said, brings an increased risk of birth defects, difficult deliveries, expensive intensive care costs and lifelong learning and behavioral issues.
“Every child born in Nebraska deserves a chance at a quality life,” said former U.S. Rep John Cavanaugh, now with Building Bright Futures of Omaha. “This adds a completely unnecessary risk to the success of children.”
The coalition, which included Nebraska Right to Life, the March of Dimes and representatives of the Catholic and Methodist Churches, held a press conference in hopes of breathing new life into a bill introduced last year to address the end of prenatal services for 1,600 low-income women in 2010. Half of the women were illegal immigrants.
The issue arose in 2009, when the federal government told Nebraska it had to end its decades-long practice of financing prenatal care for low-income women based on the eligibility of the unborn children. It had to be based on the eligibility of the mother, the state was told.
The feds suggested a way Nebraska could restore the coverage, but the Legislature has not acted.
An attempt to revive the prenatal care issue in 2010 ran into outspoken opposition from Gov. Dave Heineman, who said he opposes granting any taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants.
Another effort last year was pulled back because of the state's budgetary difficulties.
Supporters of restoring prenatal care, however, say it's not an immigration issue but the morally and fiscally right thing to do.
In the first 10 months after services were cut off, health officials have said, four babies were stillborn in Columbus and a premature infant died in Omaha. A lack of prenatal care is believed to have contributed to at least some of those deaths. More up-to-date estimates were not immediately available.
Children of illegal immigrants become U.S. citizens automatically upon birth and qualify for Medicaid. Thus, prenatal care heads off more expensive intensive-care bills that taxpayers will pick up, anyway.
“It's not only the wise thing to do, but the fiscally wise thing to do,” said Dr. Amanda McKinney, who practices obstetrics/gynecology in Beatrice.
She said every $1 invested in prenatal care can save $3.38 in later costs in premature or underweight births, preventable birth defects and difficult deliveries.
The press conference revived a controversial issue that divided abortion opponents, like Heineman, when it mixed in the contentious issue of illegal immigration.
Legislative Bill 599, introduced last year, would allow the state to provide prenatal coverage through its Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
The bill would require about $1.9 million in state funds per year and an additional $4.4 million in federal funds.
State Sen. Kathy Campbell of Lincoln, the chief sponsor of LB 599, said she expects the Health and Human Services Committee to discuss soon whether to advance the measure for debate by the full Legislature.
Campbell said the committee, which she chairs, has been trying to track the health impacts of halting the prenatal care but said she is unsure if the information will be ready yet this spring.
“It's not a question of whether this issue will ever come up, it's when,” Campbell said. “It's a timing issue.”
The committee is also consumed with another issue this year, addressing the troubled state child-welfare system.
But advocates at the press conference said restoring the prenatal services ought to be the highest priority for legislators, especially those who oppose abortion.
They said private, nonprofit clinics, such as Omaha's One World Community Health Center, don't have the resources to take over the prenatal care.
Jennifer Carter of the Appleseed Center, which advocates for the poor, said some money is available to restore the care. The state has projected about $5 million a year in reduced state general fund spending on Medicaid that could be used, she said.
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