Few states are deadlier for infants than Ohio.
In 2010, Ohio had a mortality rate of 7.72 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, according to data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That rate was the fourth highest among all 50 states.
It’s an unacceptable distinction for two Ohio senators, who are wielding a five-part legislative package aiming to keep infants alive and get Ohio moving toward the other end of CDC rankings.
Senators Charleta Tavares, D-Columbus, and Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, teamed up to roll out their proposal to combat Ohio’s infant mortality rate.
Among other provisions, the bills would devote $25 million in Medicaid savings to local infant health services, require thorough documentation of sudden infant deaths by county coroners and create the Infant Mortality Commission. The commission would coordinate local and statewide action to fight infant mortality and set aside resources, state services and funding streams.
Another bill would create the Health Center Pilot Project, which would expand education for pregnant mothers using $500,000 annually in state money from fiscal 2015 and 2016.
Tavares said she hopes the measures spelled out in the bill establish a foundation of state inquiry and intervention to keep infants from dying.
“We hope to build on it,” Tavares said.
But much of the legislative rollout boils down to education, Jones said in a release Wednesday.
“Right now, Ohio is coming in nearly last in the nation for infant mortality, which is an unacceptable standard,” Jones said. “We lose too many babies in Ohio before they reach their first birthday and many of these cases can be prevented with proper training and education.”
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