Bill passes to help babies see first birthday

0

COLUMBUS – State Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, chair of the Senate’s Health & Human Services Committee, has announced the passage of legislation that advances efforts to help more Ohio babies reach their milestone first birthday. Ohio’s infant mortality rate, defined by the number of babies who die during their first year of life, ranks 45th in the nation, and the Ohio Senate, led by Jones, has tirelessly fought for policies aimed at improving the health of Ohio’s mothers and babies.

Senate Bill 332 reflects recommendations of the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality, which focus on aiming Ohio’s fight against infant mortality at implementing best practices and scaling proven interventions into targeted neighborhoods.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the partnership between the legislature, Ohio’s medical and clinical experts and our local community leaders to address a complex and devastating, yet often preventable problem,” said Jones. “Enormous effort has gone into learning how to best support our most vulnerable moms and babies, and I am confident that this legislation is one more step forward to better health outcomes and more first birthdays in Ohio.”

“Ohio is blessed with some of the best clinical healthcare facilities, programs and experts in the world, but this is a public health crisis that needs an accountable system designed to improve the health of our mothers and infants,” said Sen. Keith Faber, president of the Ohio Senate. “I greatly appreciate Shannon’s perseverance and leadership to bring together a diverse and bipartisan group of stakeholders who have developed tested, results-based solutions for us to implement in Ohio.”

Staff report

No posts to display