Review: The challenges of giving birth in the time of COVID-19

Review: The challenges of giving birth in the time of COVID-19

This op-ed by Laurie Zephyrin, M.D., the vice president of health care delivery system reform at The Commonwealth Fund, suggests ways that pregnant women can be given better care in light of COVID-19.

The suggestions are:

  • Pregnant women should be given priority for COVID-19 testing, pregnant women should be able to get care via telemedicine with midwives, doctors, and doulas
  • Medicaid should cover telehealth and expand postpartum care from 60 days to a full year
  • More birthing centers should be made available
  • Ambulatory surgery centers should be repurposed during the COVID-19 pandemic for pregnant women at low risk of complications
  • Greater use and reimbursement for midwives and doulas “who can help low-income women navigate the health care system and leverage local resources to connect to social needs like food and housing.”

 

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|2020-04-10T16:12:04-04:00April 10th, 2020|COVID-19 Literature|Comments Off on Review: The challenges of giving birth in the time of COVID-19

About the Author: Seema Mohapatra

Seema Mohapatra
Seema Mohapatra is an Associate Professor of Law and Dean's Fellow at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, She teaches Introduction to Health Care Law and Policy, Genetics and the Law, Torts, and Bioethics and the Law. Seema Mohapatra is an expert in the areas of health care law, public health law, bioethics, torts, and international health and family law. Her research interests include the intersection of biosciences and the law, assisted reproduction and surrogacy, international family and health law, health care disparities in the United States, and informed consent. Her work has been published in several journals, including the Wake Forest Law Review, Colorado Law Review, Brooklyn Law Review, and the Harvard Journal of Law & Policy. Professor Mohapatra currently teaches Torts, Introduction to Health Care Law, Bioethics, and Genetics and the Law. She has authored articles and book chapters on topics such as insurance coverage of infertility and assisted reproduction, genetics and health privacy, international surrogacy laws, and equity in healthcare coverage. Professor Mohapatra regularly presents her research nationally and internationally at legal and medical conferences and symposia. Prior to teaching, Professor Mohapatra practiced health law in Chicago at Sidley & Austin and Foley & Lardner. She earned a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law and has a master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University. She earned a bachelor of arts in Natural Sciences (with a minor in Women's Studies) from Johns Hopkins University.

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