S.156 (Krueger)/A.6603 (Reyes) – AN ACT to designate the month of May as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month”.
EmblemHealth is proud to support New York State legislation S.156 (Krueger)/A.6603 (Reyes) that would designate the month of May as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.” This bill would increase awareness around a critical public health issue and acknowledge the significance of mental well-being for pregnant women.
May is recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month; however, this bill recognizes that mental health issues among pregnant adults and new parents need special attention. According to the New York Office of Mental Health, between 15 – 20 percent of all women experience some form of pregnancy-related depression or anxiety1. Identified by NYS Department of Health as the third leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths, it is critical that more resources and attention are given to this largely preventable trend.2 Most alarming in this crisis is the disproportionate effect on Black women and women of color in all facets of maternal health outcomes.
EmblemHealth is committed to improving maternal mental health through comprehensive approaches and providing a full range of mental health supports and services. We created self-advocacy checklists to support individuals through pregnancy, labor and delivery. Our Healthy Futures Program supports mothers who are high risk or enrolled in Medicaid to ensure safe and healthy pregnancies. In response to expanded coverage for doula services, we are leading a collaborative effort with NYC Department of Health and other community partners to develop program recommendations. To confront the disparity among Black women, we hosted an educational virtual discussion specifically for Black maternal health to provide information about support and advocacy. We support provider-to-provider education on maternal mental health topics through informational newsletters and articles shared within our network.3
When basic needs are unmet, mental well-being suffers; that is why EmblemHealth is focused on access to baby feeding and breast-feeding services. Additionally, community members are connected to vital social and health care services, like WIC and SNAP benefits, through our 15 Neighborhood Care sites across New York City. We also work closely with our affiliated physician practice, AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY), a primary and specialty care practice serving half a million patients across the New York area. ACPNY provides OB/GYN services at 31 medical offices across all 5 boroughs of New York City and Long Island. Most patients identify as racial minorities, with 45% of patients seen identifying as Black or African American and 20% of patients as Hispanic or Latino.
Reducing disparities in maternal mental health outcomes will require a coordinated effort to ensure all New Yorkers have access to comprehensive, culturally competent care and resources. EmblemHealth is proud of our commitment to women’s health and will continue working to improve outcomes for our members and communities. Designating May as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month” is an important step towards recognizing the work being done and the effort that remains. We support the passage of Senate Bill 156/Assembly Bill 6603.
About EmblemHealth
EmblemHealth is a mission-based, non-profit health plan headquartered in New York City with approximately 2 million enrollees in New York. For more information on how we’re supporting Women’s Health, please visit Women’s Health | EmblemHealth.