submitted by State Repersemtive Cindy Ledbetter
One of our top priorities at the Statehouse is to protect Indiana’s children, and I’ve co-authored and supported legislation this session to further that goal. Â
According to the latest data from the Indiana Department of Child Services, out of 281 child deaths in 2020, 50 resulted from maltreatment by a caregiver, and 13 of these children had prior DCS involvement. I co-authored legislation to expand the state’s reporting on child deaths, which could be used to help children in need sooner and prevent tragedies. The bill would require additional data to be collected, including whether the child had any history with DCS, and whether abuse or neglect was substantiated. Collecting more information would allow us to identify risks sooner rather than later, ultimately saving young lives.
Any Hoosier who suspects a child is being abused or neglected is required by law to report it by calling the Indiana Department of Child Services’ Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-800-5556. Reports can be made anonymously 24/7.
To protect Hoosier mothers and their unborn, the Indiana House advanced legislation, which I co-authored, to expand Medicaid access for pregnant women. The bill would increase the ceiling on income requirements and extend the time frame for which they can receive coverage from 60 days to a full year. Multiple studies show that high-quality prenatal care has a profound effect on a child’s health for many years after birth. By expanding access to life-saving medical care to mothers, both before and after their pregnancies, we can better ensure newborn children are healthy.
For questions about prenatal care, the Mom’s Helpline connects Hoosiers to helpful resources at 1-844-MCH-MOMS (1-844-624-6667) or MCHMOMSHelpline@isdh.in.gov.
House lawmakers also advanced legislation, which I supported, to expand screening requirements for newborns. Every newborn in Indiana is screened for over 50 health disorders before leaving the hospital or within five days of home birth, which can help catch medical issues early on. Currently, adding new screenings requires legislative action, adding unnecessary delays to the process. Under this bill, a panel of medical experts could vet and add disorders to the state’s list, speeding up response times and potentially saving the lives of Hoosier newborns. Early treatment of these disorders can make all the difference for a newborn’s health.
To learn more about Indiana’s Newborn Screening Program, visit in.gov/health/gnbs.
These bills are currently being reviewed by the Senate. To watch as it moves through the legislative process, go to iga.in.gov.
There’s nothing more important than the health and safety of our state’s children, and I will continue to make this a top priority.
