KETV: Neb. lawmaker seeks to repeal prenatal care law

[OmahaBlueDog]

A Nebraska lawmaker has moved to repeal a law that extends state-funded prenatal care services to illegal immigrants and other low-income women.

State Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont introduced the repeal measure on Wednesday, about six months after the new law went into effect.

Lawmakers restored services for women last year despite strong objections from Republican Gov. Dave Heineman. Heineman is also seeking to defund the program in the budget that he proposed to lawmakers.

Pregnant women lost access to the services in 2010, after the federal government ordered the state to stop providing them through Medicaid. The new law offers services through the Children's Health Insurance Program.

More: http://www.ketv.com/news/politics/Neb-lawmaker-seeks-to-repeal-prenatal-care-law/-/9674400/18253584/-/pef7qr/-/index.html

So, all life is precious, and we should close the abortion clinics, but we don't care if the babies are born healthy.

[dgibby]

1. Another stomach churning episode

of the Stupid Party in action. No doubt it's only going to get worse. Maybe it's time to round all of them up and start a Republican Reservation somewhere nice, oh, say, like Death Valley.

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. Nebraskans need to bombard the Unicam with e-mails on this one

This, truly, is not the money -- it's the principle of the thing. On one hand, life is precious and you're against abortion, Mr. Govenor; OTOH, life's not precious enough for basic prenatal care??

[Swede Atlanta]

3. This is a matter of being brain-dead stupid...........

If you don't provide pre-natal care you SIGNIFICANTLY increase the possibility that there will be complications with the pregnancy and/or you will have a baby born with any number of health challenges.

When that happens the state will ultimately foot the bill if the mothers and babies are uninsured. Remember that under current law a baby born to an illegal immigrant mother on American soil is an American citizen and becomes a lawful resident of the state of Nebraska.

So by denying pre-natal care this doofus actually increases the state's costs. Obviously he is doing this to be spiteful (a common Republican meme) because if he had any brains he would realize this is not a fiscally prudent action.

[OmahaBlueDog]

4. Prenatal care is generally dirt cheap

Finger prick blood tests, prenatal vitamins, some really basic nursing exams, admonitions to exercise.

Why wouldn't you?

[kestrel91316]

5. Generally the poor have enough trouble finding a way to keep a roof over their head and

getting enough food so they don't develop malnutrition even when NOT pregnant. Trips to a doctor and blood tests and vitamins are NOT cheap to someone who struggles just to meet basic needs.

Let me guess - you:
A) Are a man
and
B) Have never had to struggle to find money for food and a roof.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. I think you completely misread my post

SwedeAtlanta wrote...

This is a matter of being brain-dead stupid........... If you don't provide pre-natal care you SIGNIFICANTLY increase the possibility that there will be complications with the pregnancy and/or you will have a baby born with any number of health challenges.

When that happens the state will ultimately foot the bill if the mothers and babies are uninsured. Remember that under current law a baby born to an illegal immigrant mother on American soil is an American citizen and becomes a lawful resident of the state of Nebraska.

So by denying pre-natal care this doofus actually increases the state's costs. Obviously he is doing this to be spiteful (a common Republican meme) because if he had any brains he would realize this is not a fiscally prudent action.

Then I wrote:

Prenatal care is generally dirt cheap

Finger prick blood tests, prenatal vitamins, some really basic nursing exams, admonitions to exercise.

Why wouldn't you?

Long story short: SwedeAtlanta basically says the state costs themselves more by not paying for prenatal care and I agree by pointing out that the services we're talking about are not terribly expensive for the state.

[kestrel91316]

7. You're correct. I COMPLETELY misunderstood your point.

Glad you haven't turned into a RW freak. I was nervous there for a minute.

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. To speak to your point, the poor absolutely do need access to quality prenatal care

Prenatal care and coaching lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Until Obamacare really kicks in, most moms in poverty are going to have their babies in a scenario involving Medicaid or some similar state assistance. It benefits Mom, baby, and taxpayers if:

1) Mom stops smoking and/or using drugs or alcohol
2) Mom is given prenatal vitamins (the need for prenatal folic acid cannot be stressed enough)
3) Mom's blood iron & sugar (finger prick blood test) and basic vitals (BP being very important) are checked
4) Mom is encouraged to exercise
5) Mom is coached on the benefits to herself, her baby, and her pocketbook if she breast feeds.

You are correct to the extent that a Mom in poverty probably doesn't have the same access to resources that a Mom with good quality medical insurance has. Mom with medical insurance will get these prescriptions and coaching from her OB/GYN.

I've seen these programs. They are generally run from community centers in conjunction with the local branch of Community Action. Ideally, Mom gets these services at the same place that she can apply for and receive vouchers for WIC. Generally, it involves no more cost to the state than contracting 2-3 RNs per location, and payment for some pretty basic medical supplies and vitamins. The payback can be tremendous, because a "bad baby" scenario is both tragic and costly.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I know why State Senator Charlie Janssen wants this repealed. He wants to punish immigrants. Fremont, NE has become very hostile to illegal immigrants -- so much so that they've made it illegal for them to rent within city limits. What upsets me most here is the hypocrisy of the state GOP, which OOH tells us that every unborn life is precious and that we shouldn't allow abortion, but OTOH apparently doesn't feel that the unborn of the poor/illegal are precious enough really simple and basic prenatal care.