Funding to serve low-income pregnant moms is in jeopardy - please help ensure the health of all mothers and babies in Tompkins County!
In Tompkins County, low-income expectant mothers receive much-needed visits from trained health care-workers, with the goal of identifying serious health care issues, ensuring that pregnant women are receiving adequate prenatal care, and providing education and support. Funding for this program - the Maternal Obstetrical Medicaid Services program (MOMS) - is in jeopardy.
We are calling on the Tompkins County Legislature to reject funding cuts to the Certified Home Health Aid (CHHA), which, if enacted, would jeopardize the functioning of the MOMS program.
Low-income mothers are at high-risk for costly medical interventions, including premature birth, maternal birth complications, and postpartum depression.
These costly interventions can and are being reduced by MOMS home visits. We understand the serious need to find ways to cut costs in the county and state budget. However, this program actually serves to save critical health care dollars. Home health care visits help reduce costly interventions including premature births, reducing emergency room utilization, and long hospital stays.
We respectfully request that the full funding for this program stay intact. A short term cut in order to balance the budget will ultimately cost the county and state much more, both in health care costs, but more importantly, in the health and well being of the low-income mothers and babies of Tompkins County.
I am currently finalizing a formal briefing document that outlines the long term medical savings associated with home visits. This data will be delivered directly to the legislative office before the next budget vote. My focus is now on securing a meeting with the committee chair to review these fiscal projections.
November 4, 2010
The scale of this response has pushed the MOMS program into the spotlight at the county level. I have requested a formal meeting with the Budget Committee to present the economic arguments for maintaining our current funding levels. Expect further updates once the meeting time is confirmed.
6 Comments
S
Sarah Ferguson
15 years ago
Featured
This program is a literal lifesaver. My neighbor got so much help from them when she was expecting her twins. Cutting this is just plain stupid and will cost way more in the long run.
R
Robert Wong
15 years ago
Featured
My niece really needed this help last year. It’s hard enough raising a kid without someone checking in on your health. Leave it alone.
J
Jessica Wang
15 years ago
Featured
So many families in Tompkins county rely on the help these workers provide. Please keep this running!
A
Amy May
15 years ago
Featured
THEY LITERALLY SAVE LIVES. How is this even up for debate?? Keep the MOMS program fully funded.
M
Mike Sinclair
15 years ago
Featured
dont cut this. my wife used the moms program and it made everything so much easier during a really scary time. keep the funding.
D
David Norton
15 years ago
Featured
Short sighted. You take away help now, you get higher hospital bills later. Use common sense.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via
.
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Funding to serve low-income pregnant moms is in jeopardy - please help ensure the health of all mothers and babies in Tompkins County!
In Tompkins County, low-income expectant mothers receive much-needed visits from trained health care-workers, with the goal of identifying serious health care issues, ensuring that pregnant women are receiving adequate prenatal care, and providing education and support. Funding for this program - the Maternal Obstetrical Medicaid Services program (MOMS) - is in jeopardy.
We are calling on the Tompkins County Legislature to reject funding cuts to the Certified Home Health Aid (CHHA), which, if enacted, would jeopardize the functioning of the MOMS program.
Low-income mothers are at high-risk for costly medical interventions, including premature birth, maternal birth complications, and postpartum depression.
These costly interventions can and are being reduced by MOMS home visits. We understand the serious need to find ways to cut costs in the county and state budget. However, this program actually serves to save critical health care dollars. Home health care visits help reduce costly interventions including premature births, reducing emergency room utilization, and long hospital stays.
We respectfully request that the full funding for this program stay intact. A short term cut in order to balance the budget will ultimately cost the county and state much more, both in health care costs, but more importantly, in the health and well being of the low-income mothers and babies of Tompkins County.
I am currently finalizing a formal briefing document that outlines the long term medical savings associated with home visits. This data will be delivered directly to the legislative office before the next budget vote. My focus is now on securing a meeting with the committee chair to review these fiscal projections.
November 4, 2010
The scale of this response has pushed the MOMS program into the spotlight at the county level. I have requested a formal meeting with the Budget Committee to present the economic arguments for maintaining our current funding levels. Expect further updates once the meeting time is confirmed.
6 Comments
S
Sarah Ferguson
15 years ago
Featured
This program is a literal lifesaver. My neighbor got so much help from them when she was expecting her twins. Cutting this is just plain stupid and will cost way more in the long run.
R
Robert Wong
15 years ago
Featured
My niece really needed this help last year. It’s hard enough raising a kid without someone checking in on your health. Leave it alone.
J
Jessica Wang
15 years ago
Featured
So many families in Tompkins county rely on the help these workers provide. Please keep this running!
A
Amy May
15 years ago
Featured
THEY LITERALLY SAVE LIVES. How is this even up for debate?? Keep the MOMS program fully funded.
M
Mike Sinclair
15 years ago
Featured
dont cut this. my wife used the moms program and it made everything so much easier during a really scary time. keep the funding.
D
David Norton
15 years ago
Featured
Short sighted. You take away help now, you get higher hospital bills later. Use common sense.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach
100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
or sign with Email
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
This program is a literal lifesaver. My neighbor got so much help from them when she was expecting her twins. Cutting this is just plain stupid and will cost way more in the long run.