Senator Webb Introduces Resolution Designating March 2023 as “Women’s History Month” in the State of New York and Together with the Senate Majority Advances Legislation to Protect Maternal Health and Support Reproductive Care

March 1, 2023

BINGHAMTON, NY - Today, Senator Webb marked the first day of Women’s History Month by introducing a resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim the month of March as Women’s History Month in the State of New York. Webb remarked during her remarks on the floor that she and her freshman colleagues made history just two months ago when they were sworn in as the first all-women class of incoming senators in the 245-year history of the NYS Senate (Video Here).

Senator Webb and the Senate Democratic Majority also advanced a package of legislation that will build on the conference’s legacy of protecting reproductive care and improving maternal health outcomes. Today’s legislation includes stronger protections during special enrollment periods to prevent fees from being imposed on pregnant individuals; establishes a uterine fibroid education and awareness campaign through the Department of Health; enhances the scope of health equity impact assessments; includes new initiatives in the Hospital-Home Health Care-Physician Collaboration Program, and creates a community doula directory for doulas serving Medicaid recipients.

These bills look to address the stark disparities in Black and Brown communities with regard to health care access, early disease detection and prevention, and effective treatment options. As the United States continues to grapple with the worst maternal mortality rates in any developed nation, New York is taking meaningful steps to right these injustices and create a safe haven for women, mothers, and anyone else seeking inclusive care.

Access to safe, high quality, and readily accessible reproductive health services and maternal health care is critical to the health and safety of the women who make up more than half of our state’s population and to their families,” said Senator Lea Webb. “Here in the US, we have seen increasing rates of maternal mortality with the worst outcomes experienced by Black women and their infants. This trend, coupled with the increase in maternity care deserts across the country, including here in New York, is a public health crisis for women. My legislation makes sure that this issue is given full consideration during the Certificate of Need process undertaken by the Public Health and Health Planning Council with regard to access to reproductive and maternal health issues that are integral to the health and safety of more than half of our state’s population - Women and their families.”

The legislation passed by the Senate Democratic Majority includes:

Health Equity Assessments: This bill, S3609A, sponsored by Senator Lea Webb, enhances the scope of health equity impact assessments to require consideration of the impact a project will have on the availability and provision of reproductive health services and maternal health care.
Community Doula Directory: This bill, S1867, sponsored by Senator Samra Brouk, requires the Department of Health to establish and maintain the New York state community doula directory to promote the use of doula services by Medicaid recipients and reimbursement for doula services in the Medicaid program. It also establishes criteria for admittance into the New York state community doula directory.
Special Enrollment Period Protections: This bill, S201, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, bars a plan or contract from imposing a fee or other penalty for a pregnant individual enrolling during a special enrollment period.
Uterine Fibroid Awareness Campaign: This bill, S3219, sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare, directs the Department of Health to establish and run a public awareness and education campaign on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of uterine fibroids and the elevated risk for the condition within women of minority populations.
Hospital-Home Health Care-Physician Collaboration Program: This bill, S1451, sponsored by Senator James Sanders, includes new initiatives in the Hospital-Home Health Care-Physician Collaboration Program to address health disparities.