Kentucky's infant and maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average in Kentucky, according to the CDC.

But there are efforts in the Kentucky General Assembly to help mothers and their babies.

Our Clayton Dalton has more on some Senate bills focused on protecting Kentucky's moms.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, approximately 35,000 at home births occur each year.

Around one fourth of those births are unplanned or unattended by any health care professional.

Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Northern Kentucky Republican Shelley Funky Frohnmayer aims to keep at home births as safe as possible and give Kentucky women more birthing options.

If you are a mother that is receiving Medicaid help and supports during your pregnancy, that Medicaid help and financial supports can now be used for a licensed practicing midwife and LCP.

Add that that home birth can now be billed to Medicaid.

According to the Kentucky Board of Nursing.

Licensed Certified Professional Midwives or LCP PMS provide care to women and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

There are now 18 states, including plus D.C., that have implemented some form of Medicaid reimbursement for certified professional midwifery services.

Senate Bill 89.

This bill would add Kentucky to that list that would cover LCP services.

DeLaughter says that women with Medicaid coverage who do not want traditional hospital births are left with poor options.

So we see people doing one of the following things.

In some of these situations they either forgo the care that they truly desire and they plan a hospital birth, which is covered by their Medicaid plan.

They may make sacrifices and find a way to pay out of pocket for a birth with their LC PM and not utilize their Medicaid coverage.

Or they might choose to have a home birth without a trained provider.

Or on some occasions without any provider at all.

Choices in childbirth should not be limited to those who have the ability to pay out of pocket.

Louisville Democrat Kasy Chambers.

Armstrong said she believes the bill is a basic step in the right direction.

The numbers that stick with me are that 90% of maternal mortalities are preventable and that the reason they're preventable is not because we need fancy interventions or more high tech care, but we just need basic access to care.

And I believe this bill would do that.

Senate Bill 74.

A separate measure sponsored by Senator Funky Frohnmayer also deals with maternal health.

The bill requires the Department for Public Health to oversee a state board that reviews child and maternal deaths.

Although that board currently exists, it is not required under Kentucky law.

Both bills passed out of committee with unanimous bipartisan support and moved to the Senate floor for consideration.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Clayton Dalton.