The Issue:  The House budget removes over $3 million that the Senate and the Governor earmarked for expanding eligibility to prenatal care services for a greater number of low income women! 

Take Action:  Fax or email the budget conferees today and ask them to reject House budget item 324 #1h which defers funding for prenatal care.  You can fax or email the conferees from our Web site at http://capwiz.com/vic/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7013681

Background:  One of the most important children's issues before this year's General Assembly is increasing eligibility for prenatal care.  The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy supports expanding the number of low income women eligible to receive prenatal care services.  The legislature can do this by increasing the income threshold for eligibility for prenatal care from 133% of the federal poverty level to at least 175% of the FPL. 

Prenatal care is extremely cost effective:  A woman who does not receive prenatal care is three times more likely to deliver a low birth weight baby. Hospital charges for severe premature/low-birth weight babies are sixty times more than an uncomplicated birth.

Also, this investment would allow the state to receive $2 from the federal government for every $1 spent - possibly the best investment in health care today! 

By expanding coverage, Virginia would avoid indigent care costs as well as the enormous costs associated with poor birth outcomes from lack of appropriate prenatal care.