Study Finds Louisiana 2nd Worst State To Have A Baby

A study from the personal finance website, WalletHub, finds Louisiana is the 2^nd worst state to have a baby. Louisiana ranks last when it comes to rate of low birthweight, number of OB-GYNs, and preterm births.

State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says this is disappointing news but they aren’t surprised. She says the expansion of Medicaid will hopefully help improve birth outcomes.

“To create better coverage and hopefully better health for moms before they give birth when really is when the best chance is to impact the health of the birth and babies and families.”

The study ranks Louisiana 49^th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47^th for infant- mortality rate. Alletto says they’re working in cities and rural areas to help improve access.

“We’re taking a look statewide largely impart due to Medicaid expansion with renewed interest in making sure that access should not be an issues, particularly for children but also for pregnant women.”

Alletto says the March of Dimes puts out a report card annually and finds one of the barriers to improving the birth outcome is access and coverage.

“We are very confident and very hopeful with this Medicaid expansion that we will be able to turn the tide in these outcomes and make Louisiana a healthier state.”