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Missouri continues to see maternal and infant mortality rates, breast and cervical cancer death rates, preterm births, congenital syphilis and depression around pregnancy at rates that are higher than the national average. It also fared among the worst nationally for mental health.
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Krystal Anderson died in March after giving birth to a stillborn daughter. For Black women like her, the risk of dying of pregnancy-related causes is greater than for white women.
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Trust Women and other Kansas clinics have played an outsized role in treating abortion patients from states with bans. The clinic’s new board president says she hopes the pause will be "very temporary."
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Black women hoping to conceive using donor sperm often have to choose a donor from a different race or put their fertility journey on hold because of a shortage of Black sperm donors. One woman tells us her story. Plus: Parts of Missouri, Kansas and other Midwest states are still in drought, despite recent rains.
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Black women hoping to conceive using donor sperm often have to choose a donor from a different race or put their fertility journey on hold because of a shortage of Black sperm donors. Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center are trying to find out why.
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A bill that would improve health care access for Missouri women almost died in the House after some Republican lawmakers falsely conflated birth control with abortion medication. Now, GOP infighting in the Senate could derail it from becoming law.
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Missouri Democrats filibustered for more than 11 hours to try and block the bill, which they say will hurt low-income and disabled patients. The legislation would make it financially difficult for Planned Parenthood clinics in the state — which do not provide abortions — to provide health services for Medicaid recipients.
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Doulas and birth centers are considered part of the solution to Missouri’s "unacceptable" maternal mortality crisis. But current law makes it difficult to help mothers most in need, because many doulas aren't eligible for Medicaid reimbursements.
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The Missouri House advanced a bill that would prevent pregnant inmates in their third trimester from being restrained, except under extraordinary circumstances. The bill would also create certain health care requirements for pregnant inmates and reverse the prohibition on nonviolent drug offenders receiving SNAP benefits.
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Black women have some of the highest new infection rates regionally and nationally, and many still face systemic barriers in receiving the health care they need to live healthy and normal lives.
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A group called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is collecting signatures to put abortion rights on the state's November ballot. A recent St. Louis University/YouGov Poll found that 44% of Missourians surveyed would vote for the measure, while 37% were opposed.
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Missouri has a 4.225% sales tax on period products and diapers, because they're considered luxury items in the state tax code. Meanwhile, other health care-related products are not taxed at all.