NY Focus: Sen. Gounardes' ‘Birth Grant’ Bill Would Pay New Parents With Medicaid Funds
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New York Focus
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A proposal from state Senator Andrew Gounardes would send some new parents $1,800 in the third trimester of pregnancy.
A state lawmaker wants New York to give $1,800 to new parents — and has a plan to get the federal government to pick up half the tab.
His proposal comes as bipartisan interest is growing among state lawmakers in a time-tested strategy to tackle the state’s persistently high levels of child poverty and help families afford to remain in-state: send new parents cash.
“It’s the thing to do this year,” said Pete Nabozny, policy director at the Rochester-based advocacy organization The Children’s Agenda.
The latest idea comes from Democratic state Senator Andrew Gounardes, who recently proposed a “Healthy Birth Grant” — legislation to send $1,800 to parents during the third trimester of pregnancy. The federal government would help pay, as the program would be run through Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income people and people with disabilities.
The money would only go to new parents who are on Medicaid, which covers about half of New Yorkers.
“When you have a new baby, the expenses come fast and furious,” Gounardes told New York Focus. “We want to make sure families have that extra financial support by the time the child is born, so they don’t have to worry about making ends meet.”
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