In this episode of The Birth Lounge podcast, HeHe dives into what’s happening in women's health and healthcare access, focusing on the postpartum landscape and recent budget cuts impacting Medicaid. Special guest Natalie Davis, founder of United States of Care, joins to discuss pivotal healthcare legislation, Medicaid’s role in maternal and infant health, and the importance of universal access to quality healthcare. The discussion also touches on the power of virtual care and current legislative threats to preventive health services. We hope this episode will equip and inspire you to engage in local healthcare advocacy.
01:34 Current State of Women's Health in the US
02:23 Introducing Natalie Davis
05:51 Challenges in Postpartum Care
10:04 Impact of Budget Cuts on Medicaid
16:16 Supreme Court Case on Preventive Services
22:38 Advocacy for Better Healthcare
27:44 Universal Healthcare Debate
28:38 Debating Healthcare Access and Affordability
31:05 The 100 Weeks Project: Supporting Postpartum Women
32:57 Personalized and Comprehensive Postpartum Care
34:53 Navigating the Postpartum System
40:38 Resources for NICU Families and Mental Health Support
42:07 Legislation Impacting Women's Health
43:30 The Rise of Virtual Care
50:53 Getting Involved in Local Legislation
53:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Guest Bio:
For nearly two decades, Natalie Davis has worked shaping and implementing American health care policies to improve the lives of all people. In 2018, she and fellow national health care leaders, such as Andy Slavitt, launched United States of Care to ensure that everyone in the country has access to quality, affordable health care through a community-driven policy change. She is relentless in her person-centered approach to building health care solutions and has a history of building partnerships that work to create positive change in our country’s health care system. From 2010-2016, Natalie served at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implementing the Affordable Care Act, with the final two years as Senior Advisor to former CMS Administrator, Andy Slavitt. A social entrepreneur, Natalie also helped found Town Hall Ventures which focuses on bringing the best of innovation and care delivery to diverse communities. Natalie also served as the Director of Strategic Engagement at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Natalie holds an M.A. in Philosophy from George Washington University and is an alumna of Salisbury University schools of Sociology and Art History. Natalie lives in Washington, DC with her amazing husband and four children.
INSTAGRAM:
Connect with United States of Care on IG
BIRTH EDUCATION:
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LINKS MENTIONED:
State of Postpartum Care (State Maps)
Preventive Services Resource Hub
https://www.marchofdimes.org/our-work/nicu-family-support