ATLANTA – State Representative Park Cannon (D-Atlanta) was recently invited to give a presentation on enhancing maternal care during the White House State Legislative Convening on Reproductive Rights in June. During the summit, Rep. Cannon spoke on extending Medicaid funding to provide certified doulas to patients during labor.
“Now is the time for legislators to listen to subject matter experts on pregnancy and fund doulas with Medicaid as Georgia insurance companies, hospital systems and non-profits have successfully done,” said Rep. Cannon. “Even the strongest succumb to pregnancy complications, such as Serena Williams, Beyonce and Torie Bowie. It is our job to expand access to community health workers, like labor doulas, who can see the signs of maternal and fetal distress earlier on.”
Rep. Cannon highlighted other legislative advances to combat the “maternal mortality pipeline.” She discussed efforts to address fibroids with minimally invasive procedures, expand postpartum Medicaid to one year after birth and prohibit shackling pregnant women.
The summit was held ahead of the one year anniversary since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Rep. Cannon was joined by approximately 40 legislators from more than 20 states that have enacted restrictive abortion policies.
Georgia House Minority Leader James Beverly (D-Macon) and State Representatives Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) and Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) also attended the White House’s summit.
Photos from Rep. Cannon’s presentation at the White House may be found here.
Rep. Cannon also compiled additional information regarding Medicaid-funded labor doulas, which may be found here.
Representative Park Cannon represents the citizens of District 58, which includes portions of Fulton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and currently serves as the House Minority Caucus Secretary. She also serves on the Code Revision, Creative Arts & Entertainment, Ethics, Human Relations & Aging, Insurance and Small Business Development committees.
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