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Babies born to mothers on Medicaid increases

November 18, 1997
By: Beejal Patel
State Capitol Bureau

Almost half of Missouri's newborns are born to mothers on Medicaid. From Jefferson City, Beejal Patel tells us some of the factors contributing to Missouri's high number of medicaid births, including teenage pregancy.

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In Missouri, the number of babies born to mothers on medicaid has increased more than 10 percent since 1990. The state health department cites 42 percent of mothers who gave birth in 1996 were covered by medicaid, compared to the national average of 39 percent.

Compared to other states, like Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and even New York, Missouri's rate is 6 to 10 percent higher, despite similar eligibility requirements.

The Department of Social Services oversees the state medicaid program. Medical Services director Greg Vadner doesn't think the high number of medicaid births is alarming.

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Contents: The number of medicaid births reflects the program is working well and there are healthy babies.

Nevertheless, some legislators are disturbed by high amount of medicaid births. Some of them have cited a high teenage pregnancy rate as one of the major causes of why almost half of the babies born in Missouri are born on Medicaid.

Saint Louis county Senator Betty Sims said she has seen more and more teens have babies because they have been let down by society and the public school system.

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Contents: Schools, families have let them down.

Senator Wayne Good, from Saint Louis county, agrees that a high percentage of teenagers are part of the rise in medicaid births, but he also says Missouri has a lot of poor people living in rural areas, especially in the southern part of the state. Good says that is one of the causes of why Missouri has a high number of uninsured people.

A federal law went into effect last October that enables all states to make it easier for medicaid eligible children and families to enroll in the program. And, many states, including Missouri, are expected to expand state medicaid programs to offer more coverage for pregnant women and children. Whether the 42% of medicaid born babies will increase even further is yet to be seen.