Governor Youngkin emphasizes the maternal efforts of mental health in Virginia

Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin joined the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority in the residential center for women in order to recognize a proclamation that has made May as a motherly awareness of mental health and important efforts that his administration has made in order to meet the health needs of new and expected mothers. The women's treatment center in Richmond is one of only 3 institutions in Virginia that enable children to stay with their mothers during treatment.

“When we see life -changing results, we should lead more of these life -changing results faster and deeper and with an energetic effort. That was what the current announcement of the mental health month of mothers in today's Mont.

The governor and the first lady were accompanied by Janet V. Kelly, the Ministry of Health Commissioner of Virginia, Karen Shelton, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Cheryl Roberts, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Nelson Smith, together with local leaders and patients Shelton, director of medical support. The maternal health efforts of the Youngkin Administration have focused on three important pillars: to improve data, to expand the targeted high -quality care and to strengthen awareness.

“Mothers have an ordained role in the life of babies and ensure that they can remain bound is of great importance,” said First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. “Special kind of care such as Richmond Behavioral Health Authority's women's treatment center offer an important environment and we lure the good works that take place here.”

“I have heard astonishing stories of people who have come back from the lowest places and lead a healthy life and raise strong families. These mothers are our heroes' stories remind us that we can never give up and we have to fight to solve the big challenges that they face.

Governor Youngkin and his team took the following steps to improve the mental health of the mother in Virginia since he got into office:

• At the moment the right help implements: If the correct help, the current behavioral change plan for behavioral health, prioritization of access, quality and results of behavioral health for all Virginians who have received support for initiatives on mental health of mothers, including support in the Biennium Budget of 2024, for the expansion of VMAP-MOMS+and highlighted support for pregnancy and appeal women with disorders with disorders Substance use with diseases with disorders.
• Executive Order 32 Restoration of the Task Force for Health Data and Quality Measures: Signed Executive Order 32 The restoration of the Task Force for health data and quality measures by the mother, who aim to improve data acquisition, inform, inform guidelines and to take into account the maternal health differences.
• Issued mothers -mortality data directive 11: Unecutive Directive 11 to support healthier pregnant women, mothers and infants by reporting implementable data from the creation. The data should be used as a resource to establish best practice to support mothers during pregnancy, birth and birth.
• Started the “Asking for Aspirin” education campaign: As part of its commitment to improve the care of pregnant women, the Department of Medical Assistance Services encourages expectant mothers to discuss the advantages of low-dose aspirin with their health service providers in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, including preeclampsia.
• Increased access to Doula services: Signed HB1614 and SB1418 to build on the successful Community Doula program by increasing the number of Doula visits covered under Medicaid.
• Extended postpartum Medicaid cover: In 2022, Virginia expanded the postpartum coverage of Medicaid members to up to 12 months, which expanded a significant expansion compared to the previous 60-day period.
• Improved quality improvements: Signed HB2753 and SB1279, for which all hospitals, licensed birth centers and free -standing emergency departments are standardized protocols, which are referred to as “security bundles”, for the identification of born emergencies for both the inpatient and outpatient care.
• Increased payments for psychiatric and obstetrical medical residences for graduates: Increased the supplementary payments for all qualifying obstetric and psychiatric residences of $ 100,000 to $ 150,000 per year to increase applications and increase the required workforce.
• Made 2.5 million US dollars available for the financing of pilot programs for the Perinatal Health Hub: Prepared financing for increasing the number of perinatal health centers throughout the Commonwealth. In cooperation with the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative, the Virginia Ministry of Health will provide two -year subsidy prices for community -based providers (hubs) that improve the perinatal results and reduce the mortality of the mother and children in their communities.
• Increased access to obstetric services: Introduced quarterly Saturday clinic lessons in the Bon Secour Southside Regional Hospital for Medicaid members in Petersburg. The Inova Health Center also extended hours in the health system to increase access to expected mothers.

The video of the announcement can be displayed here.

The proclamation can be read here.