Cohen's 9th District Wellness Series Continues with Infant Mortality & Maternal Health Forum

Congressman Cohen is the sponsor of the NEWBORN Act, which would help lower infant mortality rates in America

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) this morning hosted the third event of his “Building a Healthier Memphis” series on wellness in the Ninth District at Church Health Center Wellness. Today’s event focused on reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health as well as provided information for Ninth District citizens on how they can take advantage of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act to keep themselves, their families, and their communities healthy. For this event, Congressman Cohen brought together several local experts for a panel discussion on these issues that disproportionately affect Memphis families.

“The infant mortality rate of the United States is woefully high, and Memphis’s rate is even higher,” said Congressman Cohen. “We all came into the world somehow, so maternal health is important to us all. We can and should do more to improve maternal health and reduce infant mortality in our community. I’m encouraged that so many Memphians attended today’s panel and education session to learn how they can keep themselves, their families, and our city healthier.”

Dr. Kenneth Robinson, MD and Dr. Scott Morris, MD, moderated today’s panel discussion. During the discussion, health experts shared with the attendees that the most important thing families can do is plan their pregnancies and ensure they receive proper health care and pregnancy information prior to becoming pregnant.

In addition to hosting events like today’s to bring attention to these important issues, Congressman Cohen also supports numerous pieces of legislation in Congress that aim to lower infant mortality rates across the country. His is the primary sponsor of H.R. 4639, the Nationally Enhancing the Wellbeing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act, which would create a number of pilot projects in high risk areas across the country so that we can better track instances of infant mortality, provide more support to at-risk mothers, and develop and implement standardized systems to promote healthy pregnancies. The Congressman is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 4216, the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2014. This legislation would provide grants to states to establish Maternal Mortality Review Committees to examine pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths and to identify ways to reduce maternal mortality rates.

“Everyone in the Ninth District should know that the President’s Affordable Care Act ensures that they can no longer be denied coverage simply because of a pre-existing condition and that preventive services no longer require co-pays or deductibles,” continued the Congressman. With more than 8 million Americans now enrolled in the law’s health insurance marketplaces, the law’s benefits and protections are helping save lives in our city and around the country.”

Participants in this morning’s panel included:

• Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)
• Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy, MD – Sheldon B. Korones Endowed Professor and Chief, Division of Neonatology, Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center & Medical Director, Newborn Center, Regional Medical Center and NICU – Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
• Nikole Gettings, MSN, CNM – Director of Clinical Services, Choices, Memphis Center for Reproductive Health
• Yvonne Madlock – Director, Shelby County Health Department
• Dr. Giancarlo Mari, MD, MBA – Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Dr. Linda Moses-Simmons, MD, FACOG – Assistant Professor, Director of BLUES Project, Director of Centering Program, Director of Midwifery Services, University of Tennessee Health Science Center