By Tricia Brooks Living in New Hampshire, I am among the last to see daffodils and forsythia brightly usher in the spring as the chill and short days of winter dissipate and the garden invites my attention. For those of us who work to improve the health and wellbeing of children, pregnant women and parents everyday, this spring offers a new opportunity to see growth – growth in the number of people with health coverage. In less than five months, more affordable Read More…

Re-posted with permission from Enroll America Serena Villaba Enroll America appreciates the role women play in making sure Americans enroll in affordable, high-quality health care. As we continue to celebrate the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (March 23), and with less than seven months before open enrollment begins on October 1, this is a critical time for all Americans—especially women. To fully understand how vital women will be in the coming months, we partnered with Lake Research Partners to conduct a national survey, Read More…

  April 14-20 marks the National Week of the Young Child, a time to recognize the importance of early learning and early literacy, and celebrate the teachers and policies that bring early childhood education to young children. Families in Pennsylvania depend on high-quality education and care, which help children get a healthy start and bring lasting benefits to our state economy. As we celebrate this week, it is important to acknowledge the many gains and setbacks Pennsylvania faces in reaching our most at-risk, vulnerable populations Read More…

From our friends at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project  Beginning tomorrow, April 2nd, Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is suspending new enrollments into Keystone Mercy Health Plan (KMHP) for the remainder of the 2013 calendar year. Consumers and advocates have expressed concern to DPW over its intervention in KMHP enrollments and in the resulting reduction of plan choices for consumers in the HealthChoices-Southeast zone. Though it is one of five managed care plans available in the Southeast Zone, KMHP currently covers 55 percent of the Southeast Read More…

In February, Governor Corbett released his $28.4 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. While the proposed budget makes significant strides to invest in health care and other programs benefiting families, it threatens to turn down federal funding as part of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. With eight Republican Governors recently announcing their decision to accept the Medicaid expansion, including neighboring Ohio and New Jersey, the stakes are higher than ever for Pennsylvania as it weighs the unprecedented opportunity to extend health insurance coverage to over Read More…

              LACTATION PROGRAM Time: Employees can express breast milk during regular break periods. The duration of reasonable break periods will be determined by the supervisor, school board, or human resources officer. Space: Two dedicated spaces in the district: the Education Center Area at the School District’s Main Office Building and the Rivera Recreation Center. Flexibility: Prior to returning to work, the employee will inform her supervisor of her intent to breastfeed. Ongoing communication between employee and supervisor will ensure Read More…

        LACTATION PROGRAM Time: Individualized plan. Space: A designated lactation room is available with enough space to accommodate one and possibly two nursing mothers. Flexibility: Establishing dedicated nursing breaks between nursing mothers’ class schedule is difficult and may require assistance from fellow colleagues.  Support: Top-level support from the CEO and Board of Trustees. Provision of paid maternity leave for mothers and fathers for up to 8 weeks (6 weeks short-term disability which is paid by the employer plus two additional weeks).  Equipment: Read More…

  With the presidential election showdown behind us, MCC is looking ahead to the future of maternal and child health, regionally and nationally. Here are our top five priorities for moms, babies, and childbearing families.       1) Advocating for family-friendly implementation of the Affordable Care Act Many of the provisions of the Affordable Care act are already in motion, including new free preventive services for women, insurance acceptance of children with pre-existing conditions, Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visitation programs, Medicaid reimbursements Read More…

“Babies’ immune systems are strengthened by the nutrients they get from breast milk. The longer breast milk is available, the healthier the baby, which means fewer parents missing work because their child is sick.” Alex Skolnick, Ph. D., Assistant Professor, Psychology     LACTATION PROGRAM Time: Reasonable breaks to express milk. Space: Private, furnished lactation room in Campion Student Center. Flexibility: Using the internal computer system, an employee may reserve the lactation room at a time that fits with her schedule. Employees are covered by Read More…

    Erin Cusack of MCC’s Public Policy Department sat down with Brian Rosman and Suzanne Curry, policy experts at the Massachusetts health advocacy organization Health Care For All, about their State Exchange and lessons learned through the process of state health care reform.    The Exchange at a Glance Enrollment: 187, 364 in Commonwealth Care (subsidized coverage); 40,059 in Commonwealth Choice (unsubsidized coverage) Insurance Carriers: 8 in Commonwealth Choice; 5 five managed care organizations in Commonwealth Care Consumers: individuals, small businesses Help Paying for Premiums: Yes Read More…