[ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," WE'LL UNPACK THE STATE'S HANDLING OF WOMEN'S ISSUES STARTING WITH THE PUSH BY STATE LAWMAKERS TO MAKE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE.

NEXT, WE'LL DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE RATES OF MISSING BIPOC WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

THEN WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR SAMRA BROUK TO DISCUSS HOW THE STATE IS EXPANDING ACCESS TO DOULA CARE AND APPROACHING MATERNAL HEALTH PRIORITIES THIS YEAR.

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT RECENT RULINGS ON ABORTION ACCESS BY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAVE CREATED A HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY AROUND THE ISSUE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK AHEAD AT ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

IN NEW YORK, GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SIGNED THE LAW CODIFYING ABORTION ACCESS IN THE STATE BACK IN 2022 AND SINCE THEN, THE GOVERNOR, ALONG WITH THE DEMOCRATIC-LED LEGISLATURE, HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS KEY ASPECTS OF THEIR PRIORITIES, BUT ONE IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH ALSO HAS TO DEAL WITH MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND ACCESS TO THESE PRODUCTS DOES NOT COME EASY FOR EVERYONE.

IN NEW YORK, 1 IN 6 WOMEN AND GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 44 LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND AS A RESULT HAVE GRAVE DIFFICULTY AFFORDING ESSENTIALS INCLUDING FOOD, SHELTER AND MENSTRUAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE CONTINUED TO PUSH LEGISLATION TO HELP MAKE THOSE PRODUCTS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SAFE.

FOR MORE ON THE STATE'S APPROACH TO WOMEN'S ISSUES AND PERIOD POVERTY IN THE STATE, WE'RE JOINED IN STEWED BY ELISE KLINE OF WENY NEWS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US, ELISE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> NOW, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU GOT STARTED REPORTING ON WOMEN'S ISSUES?

WHY HAS THIS BEEN A FOCUS OF YOUR REPORTING SO FAR?

>> SO IN COLLEGE, I WROTE MY FIRST ARTICLE KIND OF ON WOMEN'S ISSUE AND THE PERIOD POVERTY THAT AND THE MENSTRUAL MOVEMENT.

I READ A BOOK CALLED, "PERIOD POWER," BY NADYA OKAMOTO.

SHE STARTED A NONPROFIT THAT HELPED-- THAT IS NOW LIKE WORLDWIDE.

IT DISTRIBUTES MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IT JUST KIND OF REALLY INSPIRED ME TO DIG DEEPER INTO THAT ISSUE AND SO THEN WHEN I GOT INTO PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM, I STARTED EXPLORING THAT TOPIC MORE.

>> AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A BILL THAT YOU'VE REPORTED ON THAT WOULD EXPAND ACCESS TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

SO WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD THIS YEAR?

I KNOW LAST YEAR IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OVER THE LEGISLATIVE FINISH LINE.

>> YEAH LAST YEAR, IT DID MAKE IT OVER THE FINISH LINE.

IT PASSED THE SENATE, BUT IT DIED IN ASSEMBLY I WASN'T QUITE CLEAR WHY IT DIED IN ASSEMBLY.

THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER AS TO WHY THINGS DON'T PASS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT LAST YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET WENT INTO OVERTIME A LOT OF BILLS GOT PUSHED ASIDE.

SO THIS YEAR, THAT BILL IS CURRENTLY STILL IN BOTH SENATE AND ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES, BUT LAWMAKERS ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL MOVE FORWARD THIS SESSION.

I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT DEPEND A LITTLE BIT ON HOW THE BUDGET GOES AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES DELAY BILLS A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT FOLLOWS THROUGH.

>> ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WAS THAT NEW YORK MAKES PERIOD PRODUCTS FREE OF CHARGE FOR STUDENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT IT SEEM LIKE GETTING THAT COLLEGE PORTION HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT STALLED SO WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAR AS TO WHY SOME BILLS GO FORWARD AND SOME DON'T.

BUT I DO THINK THAT SOME LAWMAKERS THINK THAT THERE'S-- THERE IS SOME OPPOSITION TO GETTING IT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, DIT PASS THE SENATE SO THAT IS-- THAT IS A POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, A POSITIVE SIGN THAT IT WILL PASS AGAIN THIS YEAR IN THE SENATE AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL PASS IN THE ASSEMBLY AS WELL.

BUT IT COULD BE THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WITH COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND MORE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S MORE GUARDRAILS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT BILL THAT A LOT OF LAWMAKERS ARE PUSHING FOR AND THAT THEY'RE HOPING WILL PASS THIS YEAR.

>> SO FROM YOUR PURVIEW, HOW DOES THE STATE STACK UP AGAINST OTHER STATES IN ITS APPROACH TO WOMEN'S ISSUES?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT NEW YORK HAS PASSED A LOT OF-- AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING BILLS THROUGH SESSION LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THAT HAVE REALLY TRIED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ACCESS FOR PERIOD PRODUCTS.

I KNOW SENATOR PERSAUD HAS A BILL AND I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED YET BUT SHE HAS TOLD ME THAT SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE HER PERIOD PRODUCTS ACCESSIBLE IN ALL PUBLIC BUILDINGS SO THAT WOULD BE, I THINK, A REALLY HUGE STEP FOR JUST MAKING THESE PRODUCT-- BASIC NECESSITIES ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN OTHER-- OTHER BILLS RELATED TO MATERNAL HEALTH AND, YOU KNOW, PERIOD PRODUCTS.

SO I HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW BILLS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH, BUT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS MORE.

THERE'S MORE THAT PEOPLE COULD DO.

>> AND YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING A LOT ON THIS, BUT HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE OVERALL MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS DOING IN TERMS OF REPORTING ON WOMEN'S ISSUES?

ARE THERE ANY AREAS THAT YOU THINK THE ALBANY PRESS CORPS IS OVERLOOKING?

>> WELL, I THINK PERIOD POVERTY IS ONE ISSUE THAT IS DEFINITELY OVERLOOKED.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF FOCUS ON LIKE THE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND THAT KIND OF HAVING A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION, BUT I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE CAN FALL SHORT OF REPORTING ON PERIOD POVERTY ISSUES AND THERE ARE SO MANY INTERESTING BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP PROVIDE ACCESS TO THESE BASIC NECESSITIES AND THESE PRODUCTS FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO THEM.

THERE WAS A BILL, I THINK, THAT-- A LAW THAT WAS SIGNED LAST YEAR OR MIGHT BE THE YEAR BEFORE TO MAKE THE PRODUCTS ACCESSIBLE IN HOMELESS SHELTERS.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING PIECES THAT SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE I MIGHT BE THE ONLY REPORTER LOOKING INTO THESE ISSUES, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER WOMEN'S ISSUES THAT DO GET OTHER ATTENTION AS WELL.

I JUST THINK THAT PERIOD POVERTY IS ONE ISSUE THAT DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION AS IT SHOULD.

>> ARE THERE ANY THREADS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO PULL ON IN THE REMAINDER OF THE SESSION?

ANY REPORTING ASPECTS THAT YOU'RE HOPING TO FOCUS MORE ON AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

>> SO THERE'S ONE BILL THAT I'M LOOKING TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT IS RELATED TO LIKE THE HEALTH OF PERIOD PRODUCTS.

SO IT'S THE-- THE LEGISLATION IS INTENDING TO RESTRICT CERTAIN SUBSTANCES IN PERIOD PRODUCTS AND IT ALSO HAS A DEFINITION WITHIN THE LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT THOSE SUBSTANCES WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF LIKE FRAGRANCES, COLORANTS, DYES AND SOMETIMES CHEMICALS LIKE MERCURY AND LEAD GET KIND OF SNUCK INTO PERIOD PRODUCTS THROUGH THE DEFINITION OF IT'S A COLORANT OR A DYE OR A PRESERVATIVE.

THERE'S LEGISLATION.

IT DID PASS THE SENATE.

IT'S NOT PASSED THE ASSEMBLY YET.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING BILL THAT I WILL DEFINITELY BE FOCUSING ON.

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH ELISE KLINE OF WENY NEWS.

THANK YOU.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WE'LL BRING YOU UPDATES ON THE BILLS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE ACCESS AND SAFETY OF MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW AND ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

NOW TURNING TO ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOPIC.

FEDERAL REPORTS SHOW THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MISSING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RECENT YEARS AND A LARGE PORTION OF THAT FIGURE IDENTIFIED AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THAT REALITY HAS LED TO CALLS FOR STATE ACTION FROM LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES TO HELP ADDRESS THE CRISIS.

LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR ARE SLATED TO ESTABLISH A NINE-MEMBER TASK FORCE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THE BODY WILL ASSESS THE CRISIS AND ISSUE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

HERE'S THAT STORY.

GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL SIGNED A LAW TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE ON MISSING WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THE RESPONSER OF THE LEGISLATION STATE SENATOR LEA WEBB AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER KARINES REYES SAY THE TASK FORCE WILL HELP SHED LIGHT ON THE GRAVE AMOUNT OF MISSING BIPOC WOMEN AND CHILDREN EACH YEAR AND DELIVER POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> THIS LANDMARK LAW IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF BLACK, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR, WOMEN AND GIRLS ACROSS OUR STATE.

IT IS AN ALARMING NUMBER OF WOMEN AND GIRLS OF COLOR WHO GO MISSING OR ARE MURDERED EACH YEAR.

NO FAMILY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.

>> THE LEGISLATION HAS BROAD SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAILING FROM AREAS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN-SIGAL, SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, SENATOR NATAHLIA FERNANDEZ, AS WELL AS A FEW REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.

LONG ISLAND ASSEMBLY MEMBER TAYLOR DARLING UNDERSCORED HOW THE ISSUE DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE CONSTITUENTS IN HER COMMUNITY.

>> IT APPEARS SOME CHILDREN ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHERS AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT OUR CHILDREN MATTER.

WE CARE WHEN THEY'RE NOT AT HOME.

WE'D LIKE THEM NOT TO BE HUMAN TRAFFICKED AND SEX TRAFFICKED AND ONE CHILD MISSING SHOULD AFFECT ALL OF US.

THAT IS ALL OF OUR PROBLEM.

WE HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN FROM MY COMMUNITY THAT ARE REPORTED MISSING AND CLASSIFIED AS RUNAWAYS AND AGAIN, THAT SENSE OF URGENCY, THAT TIME, THAT 48 HOURS THAT WE NEED TO LOCATE OUR CHILDREN, IT'S MISSED.

THOSE ARE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES WHICH OFTEN LEAD TO DEATH.

>> AND ADVOCATES AGREE.

DAWN ROWE, FOUNDER OF GIRL VOW, UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE IN ORDER TO SEE CHANGE.

>> WHEN YOU DO THIS WORK, YOU LEARN QUICKLY AS YOU WORK WITH FAMILIES THAT SILENCE IS LOUD AND INJUSTICE CAN LAST A VERY LONG TIME.

SO TODAY IS HISTORICAL, AS WE BEGIN THE ARDUOUS TASK TO BEGIN OUR DIALOGUES, AS WE CHANGE THE LENS WHERE GIRLS HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO ONLY UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA.

SO TODAY, WE ACTIVATE HEALING.

>> AND LOOKING AT THE WORK AHEAD, ASSEMBLY MEMBER KARINES REYES AGREED WITH ADVOCATED WHO CALLED FOR AN OVERSIGHT INITIATIVE IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT PARTICULARLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEY KIND OF PIECEMEAL THE RESPONSE IN THESE CASES THEY TAKE VERY IN THE-- THEY MAKE VERY IN-THE-MOMENT DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WARRANTS A RUNAWAY, WHAT WARRANTS AN AMBER ALERT.

WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCESSES ARE STREAMLINED REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, REGARDLESS OF WHO GOES MISSING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCESSES ARE STREAMLINED FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO GO MISSING AND THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THERE ARE BREACHES IN THAT PROCESS.

>> AND THE WORK IS NOT OVER JUST BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOW GO ON TO IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE IN THE COMING MONTHS, WHO WILL THEN HAVE TWO YEARS TO COME UP WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF MISSING BIPOC WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE YEARS TO COME.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE LATEST UPDATES ON THE TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS MISSING BIPOC WOMEN AND CHILDREN RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

NOW ONTO ANOTHER TOPIC.

LAST YEAR, THE STATE EXPANDED MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR PATIENTS WHO USE DOULAS AND ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY.

STATE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR SAMRA BROUK HAS CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE MATERNAL HEALTH SINCE GETTING ELECTED.

WE SPOKE WITH THE SENATOR TO UNPACK HOW THE STATE WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO DOULA CARE AND PRIORITIZE MATERNAL HEALTH THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, SENATOR.

>> THANKS FOR COMING.

>> NOW LAST YEAR, YOU RELEASED A REPORT THAT REALLY SPELLED OUT THE STATE OF DOULA CARE IN NEW YORK.

COMING OUT OF THAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF REVELATIONS AND SOME POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHY DOULA CARE AND MATERNAL HEALTH HAS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF YOUR TOP PRIORITIES AS A LAWMAKER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I OBVIOUSLY WAS INTERESTED IN AS A LEGISLATOR.

IN GENERAL, JUST BEING A WOMAN IN NEW YORK, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THE BIG MOMENT FOR ME CAME IN 2022 WHEN I BECAME A MOTHER AND WENT THROUGH THE BIRTHING PROCESS, AND I REALLY CREDIT MY DOULA FOR REALLY HELPING ME HAVE A HEALTHY OUTCOME AND POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER.

SO HAVING THAT INFORMATIONAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT THE DOULA PROVIDED ALLOWED ME TO ACTUALLY ENJOY THAT PROCESS AND EVEN FOLLOWING THE BIRTH, A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT DOULAS PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT POSTPARTUM AS WELL AND ALL OF THAT WAS SO TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL.

SO EVEN AFTER HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE, IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME IT WAS GOING TO BE MY MISSION TO MAKE SURE EVERY NEW YORKER WHO HAS A BABY HAS AT LEAST THE OPTION TO HAVE A DOULA.

THAT HAS REALLY BEEN A DRIVING MOTIVATION TO GET THIS WORK DONE, BUT THEN THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS SIMPLY BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN NEW YORK STATE, RIGHT?

SO REALLY, THE UNITED STATES IS ACTUALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE BIRTH IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD.

BUT ON TOP OF THAT, BLACK WOMEN, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NEW YORK ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN CHILD BIRTH OR RELATED TO PREGNANCY.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS LIKE THAT, IT'S REALLY, REALLY SCARY AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT DOULA CARE-- AGAIN, THESE ARE NON-CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT OFFER EMOTIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, PHYSICAL SUPPORT, ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO HELP INTERCEPT SOME OF THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES THAT HAPPEN SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SEE THIS COULD BE A REALLY HUGE HELP TO FIGHTING THE MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS, IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HERE IN NEW YORK.

>> AND THE GOOD THING IS YOU'RE NOT ALONE IN TRYING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO DOULA CARE.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ONE OF YOUR BILLS THAT YOU SPONSORED TO CREATE A DIRECTORY OF DOULAS IN THE STATE.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR TO EXPAND DOULA CARE IN THE STATE?

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER ON THIS, AS WE SAW IN HER STATE OF THE STATE EVEN THIS YEAR IN 2024, SHE'S PRIORITIZING MATERNAL HEALTH, MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH.

SO THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR WAS OUR COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY AND THE WHOLE POINT OF THAT IS THAT WE WERE AWARE THAT STARTING JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR THERE WAS GOING TO BE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT ROLLOUT FOR DOULA CARE.

THAT MEANS THAT ANY PERSON WHO'S COVERED WITH MEDICAID, WHO GIVES BIRTH IN NEW YORK STATE CAN NOW BE REIMBURSED SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO HIRE A DOULA.

AND JUST TO PUT A FINER POINT ON THAT, NEARLY 50% OF BIRTHS IN NEW YORK STATE ARE COVERED UNDER MEDICAID.

SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY OF NEW YORK STATE, WE ARE LITERALLY AFFECTING POTENTIALLY NEARLY HALF OF THE BIRTHS IN NEW YORK STATE, WHICH IS SO HUGE.

AND SO AFTER HAVING THAT MEDICAID ROLLOUT, NOW WE THINK ABOUT, OKAY, HOW DO WE MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHY THE COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY WAS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE 0H NEEDS TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAVING THE INFORMATION SO ANYONE SEARCHING FOR A DOULA ON MEDICAID CAN GO ON THE DOH WEBSITE AND KNOW THEY CAN FIND VETTED DOULAS IN THEIR AREA.

THAT'S WHAT THAT BILL WAS ABOUT.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE DOULAS IN THE WORLD ACCEPTING MEDICAID AND BEING ENROLLED, BUT IF MOTHERS AND BIRTHING PEOPLE CAN'T FIND THAT INFORMATION, WHAT GOOD IS IT?

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED THE INFORMATION TO GET.

SO THE COMMUNITY DOULA DIRECTORY IS A HUGE STEP IN THAT.

SO WAS VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STAND WITH THE GOVERNOR IN NOVEMBER AND HAVE HER SIGN THAT BILL.

>> SO EXPECTANT MOTHERS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID WILL BE REIMBURSED IF THEY CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE DOULA, BUT WHAT ABOUT MOTHERS THAT AREN'T ENROLLED IN MEDICAID?

IS THERE ANY THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL EXPAND TO HAVE STATEWIDE MANDATES FOR PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COVER THAT COST AS WELL?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, FOR ME, YES.

MY GOAL IS YES.

MY GOAL IS, AGAIN, EVERYBODY IN NEW YORK WHO WANTS A DOULA SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT USUALLY WE START WITH THE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT, RIGHT, BECAUSE WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SERVED THROUGH MEDICAID, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS AND HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES AS WELL, PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH MEDICAID AND A LOT OF TIMES FOLLOW SUIT.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT I HAVE EVEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PROVIDERS WHO HAVE SAID THEY INTEND ON STARTING THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS FOR DOULA CARE.

SO YOU KNOW, I HOPE MORE INSURANCE PROVIDERS WILL TAKE NOTE AND REALIZE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT CAN BE A COST SAVING MEASURE FOR AN INSURANCE PROVIDER, RIGHT?

SO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE DATA OF USING A DOULA, DOULAS ACTUALLY DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF TIME DURING BIRTH BY UP TO 25%.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, THAT'S LESS TIME IN A HOSPITAL, RIGHT, LESS TIME INSURANCE HAS TO PAY.

THEY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY C-SECTIONS WHICH ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS PROCEDURES SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM AN INSURANCE PROVIDER'S PERSPECTIVE, SPENDING 1,500 OR $2,000 FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON DOULA CARE COULD SAVE YOU TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IF IT'S IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE MOTHER AND THE BABY.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT MANDATED IN STATE LAW, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH PROVIDER TOES SEE THAT THERE IS TREMENDOUS VALUE IN DOING THIS.

>> AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE, IN WHAT WAYS DOES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS REALLY HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR PREGNANCY?

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY DOULAS HELP WITH A LOT OF THE PHYSICAL LABOR, IF YOU WILL, BUT THEY ALSO HELP ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE.

SO I'VE SHARED WITH SEVERAL FOLKS THAT ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENTS I HAD WITH MY DOULA WAS THE FIRST DAY I WAS SENT BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL, SENT HOME, NEW MOM, NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.

VERY CONFUSED.

I HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BEING IN MY ARMS AND JUST SO FOCUSED ON HER, SO FOCUSED ON EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO DO FOR HER AND MY DOULA ASKED ME A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION AND LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, HOW ARE YOU?

IT WAS JUST LIFE-CHANGING BECAUSE I HAVEN'T CHECKED IN ON MYSELF.

JUST GIVING ME THAT SPACE TO SAY, AM I OKAY?

DO I FEEL EMOTIONALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY OKAY?

LUCKILY I DID AND I FELT LOOK I HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT.

EVEN HAVING SOMEONE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS OF NEW MOTHERS IS SO, SO IMPORTANT AND ACTUALLY, MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE THE NUMBER ONE MOST COMMON PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS.

1 IN 5 BIRTHING PEOPLE WILL HAVE FACE SOME TYPE OF MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION, AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, RIGHT?

IT CAN BE THE ONSET OF ANXIETY, OF OCD IN THE POSTPARTUM TIME PERIOD.

WE'VE DONE A LOT WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

WE GOT THE MATERNAL HEALTH WORKGROUP PASSED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND FUNDED.

YEAH.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND, TOO, THAT'S ONE OF THE ONLY WORKGROUPS THAT WILL REMANY BURST FOR CHILD CARE, AND THAT WAS A REALLY BIG COMPONENT FOR ANY TO HAVE IN THAT LEGISLATION BECAUSE IF WE TRULY WANT AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS, WHICH ARE PARENTS OR MOTHERS, ON THIS WORKGROUP TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEIR EXPERIENCE, WE CAN'T SAY, OH, COME DO THIS WORKGROUP.

IT'S A VOLUNTARY BODY.

YOU ARE GOING TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR KID FOR YOU, AND THEY WILL REIMBURSE FOR CHILD CARE AND THEY HAVE STARTED TO MEET.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

ALSO LAST YEAR, WE PASSED A BILL TO STUDY THE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS THAT WERE DONE AND THIS ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF GOING THROUGH THESE SCREENINGS AT MY CHILD'S PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENTS AND WE REALIZE THAT THERE WAS SOME SPACE THERE TO PERHAPS EXPAND WHICH PROVIDERS ARE GIVING THESE SCREENINGS, AND SO THE BILL THAT WE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE, THIS YEAR WE'RE HOPING TO GET SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, ACTUALLY WILL EXPAND WHICH PROVIDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE THESE SCREENINGS SO FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS PUT THEIR OWN HEALTH ON THE BACK BURNER WHEN THEIR CHILD IS IN NEED AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T MISS ANY OF THOSE PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENTS.

IT WAS TWO DAYS.

IT WAS TWO WEEKS, RIGHT, YOU ARE GOING THERE SO OFTEN.

NOW DOH WILL PUT OUT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT AT PEDIATRIC APPOINTMENTS, THEY'RE SUPPLYING THESE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS TO NEW PARENTS AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO THESE APPOINTMENTS AND NOW THERE'S A CHANCE TO REALLY HOPEFULLY INTERCEPT AND PERHAPS EVEN START TREATMENT PLANS FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

>> AS YOU CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON DOULA CARE AND MATERNAL HEALTH IN THE YEARS AHEAD, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT EXPANDING ACCESS TO DOULA CARE AND FOCUSING ON, FOR EXAMPLE, POSTPARTUM, ANXIETY DISORDERS AND REALLY PUSHING FORWARD THAT WORKGROUP THAT YOU MENTIONED?

>> I MEAN, IF WE DON'T DO THIS WORK, WE ALREADY SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT'S THE MOMENT WE'RE IN, RIGHT?

SO WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS, POLICYMAKER POSITIONS, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE MOTHERS, YOU KNOW, IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE WERE FAILING MOTHERS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE OUR MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS IS GETTING WORSE.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COUNTRY HAVE GOTTEN BETTER, SURE.

THE TRUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TO MATERNAL HEALTH, WE ARE WORSE OFF TODAY THAN WE WERE YEARS AGO.

IF WE DON'T CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS AND REALLY PUT IN THE WORK THAT IS GOING TO REACH THE END USER, REACH THE NEW YORKER WHO NEEDS THE HELP, WE WILL SEE IT CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

WHEN I SAY GET WORSE, I'M TALKING ABOUT LITERALLY LOSING LIVES, LOSING LIVES OF MOTHERS, LOSING LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND THAT IS 100% UNACCEPTABLE.

THAT'S WHY I CALL IT BEATING THE DRUM.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP BEATING THE DRUM, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT WE CAN SEE AND FEEL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES IN THESE POSITIONS AND WHO ARE WILLING TO USE THAT AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO MOVE THESE THINGS FORWARD, RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY NOT INCLUDED MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH IN HER PRIORITIES, BUT SHE DID.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS SECTOR IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO STOPPING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP-- KEEP BEATING THE DRUM AND KEEP GOING, REALLY, UNTIL WE SOLVE THIS CRISIS.

>> WE'RE TWO MONTHS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE'RE IN THE THICK OF BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

IT'S ALSO AN ELECTION YEAR AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THIS YEAR.

SO IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHAT WOULD DOULA ACCESS EXPANSION AND FOCUSING ON MATERNAL HEALTH, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE THIS SESSION?

WHAT WOULD A SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATIVE SESSION LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, MY SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE WHEN EVERY SINGLE NEW YORKER WHO WANTS A DOULA GETS ONE.

THAT'S MINORITY STAR.

THAT'S MY SUCCESS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY GOAL.

BUT I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON SPECIFICALLY IN THE BUDGET, RIGHT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN MATERNAL HEALTH AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH.

SUCCESS WILL LOOK LIKE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONTINUING TO KEEP DOULAS AT THE TABLE AS THEY CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT THIS MEDICAID BENEFIT AND NOT JUST AT THE TABLE OF DECISION MAKING, BUT ALSO AT THE CENTER OF THE DECISION MAKING SO WE'VE TRIED AS BEST WE CAN TO HELP FACILITATE THAT RELATIONSHIP BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE CRUCIAL, RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING THIS ALL TO FRUITION, AND I THINK IT'S CONTINUING TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPACTED AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAID WHEN I ENTERED THIS SEAT A FEW YEARS AGO.

I WAS VERY AWARE THAT THERE ARE HUGE SPOTS OF NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE, BY IN LARGE, BEEN IGNORED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS BY STATE GOVERNMENT.

I VOWED TO STOP THAT AT LEAST ON MY OWN PART.

SO WHEN I ENTERED THIS SEAT, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I TALKED TO SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS AND WHAT I LEARNED IS SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE ARE OUR BLACK AND BROWN MOTHERS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FEELING SEEN AND HEARD, AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL BENEFIT THEM.

WE KNOW WHEN IT BENEFITS THEM, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYONE.

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT THERE AND THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SESSION.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR, FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH SENATOR SAMRA BROUK, CHAIR OF THE SENATE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU UPDATES ON HOW THE STATE IS WORKING TO ADDRESS MATERNAL HEALTH ISSUES AND EXPAND ACCESS TO DOULA CARE RIGHT HERE ON THE SHOW.

AND FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW".

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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