OKLAHOMA CITY –Having a baby can be dangerous in Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s maternal mortality rate is 23.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Oklahoma also ranks #2 in the nation for the number of people without health insurance.

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater wants to change that. HB2014, authored by Rep. Ranson would instruct the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority to seek a federal Medicaid Waiver to make sure women maintain their insurance for the first 12 months after giving birth.

The legislation was a recommendation by the Governor’s HELP Task Force last Fall. The goal of the task force was to provide ways the state could support mothers who recently gave birth.

The bipartisan bill unanimously passed the House and will head to the Senate for consideration.

“Passing this bill is a great way legislators can continue to support mothers for a year after they give birth” Rep. Ranson said.

Rep. Ranson said OHCA is currently in the process of seeking the waiver and this bill will put that process into law.

“The intent of the bill is simple. We don’t want having a baby to be a death sentence. We want the process of bringing a life into this world to be safe, supportive and comfortable,” Rep. Ranson said.

The expansion of healthcare benefits to mothers will take place retroactively from January 1, 2023.

-END-