- In an effort to track and eventually reduce pre-term births, Louisiana has instituted a new reporting program through it’s Department of Health and Hospitals. The Louisiana Birth Outcomes Initiative requires birth registration to include the gestation period and provides doctors the option of including information on the cause of early delivery. In addition, the Initiative is working with hospitals to reduce the prevalence of non-medically necessitated early deliveries. [Source]
- The annual Kids Count survey revealed areas of concern regarding care and support services for pregnant women and and children in Texas. The data show that 40 percent of new mothers in the state received little or no prenatal care during their pregnancy and more than a million children are lacking health insurance. [Source]