Griffith said her proposal failed last year due to its high cost.
“I was really disappointed and sad,” she said. “The bill did get approved last year by the House Health Committee and then was written into the budget process where ultimately it did not proceed any further because there were no funds that were set aside to cover it.”
Griffith tried again this year with House Bill 150. This time, the legislation includes health care coverage for those who are pregnant, regardless of their legal status, paid for with federal funds.
“It seeks to allow Delaware to tap into federal funds that are available for women, regardless of their immigration status, to provide prenatal labor, delivery, and postpartum care,” Griffith said. “The federal government has a program that assists states with these costs. Delaware today is not utilizing those federal funds because they … have not set up a program.”
Prenatal care is imperative for the uninsured, especially for the health of a newborn. Oftentimes, Delawareans who don’t have much money are late in scheduling check-ups during their pregnancy, said Maggie Bent of Westside Family Healthcare in Wilmington.
In 2022, 31% of all Westside patients were uninsured, and 49% of pregnant patients haven’t had coverage in the last nine months.
“Our children are most vulnerable and women who are pregnant are the most vulnerable Delawareans,” she said. “[There are] higher rates of low birth weight for pregnant women because they delay their care if they don’t have access to care.”