JOIN MEMBERS OF REFORM CONGREGATIONS ACROSS TEXAS
TO LAUNCH THE RAC-TX 2023 LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN
L’Dor V’Dor:
RAC-TX Campaign Against Maternal Mortality Information Sheet
Campaign Launch: March 20th at 7:30pm via Zoom
Register Here
Overview:
The RAC-TX Medicaid for 12 Campaign seeks to expand coverage of state health insurance for women up to one year after giving birth through the passage of HB 12 by Rep. Rose of Dallas. In Texas, we have one of the highest rates of maternal mortality– mothers dying before, during, or immediately after giving birth– in the country. As Jews, we have a moral obligation to save lives and we know that passing this bill will save lives. We have the opportunity this session to say that Texas did something to support families and keep women healthy.
Who is RAC-TX?
RAC-TX is a state project of the Religious Action Center– the social justice wing of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish denomination in North America. We are a collectively-organizing group of clergy and lay leaders from across the state committed to pursuing justice and advocating for legislation that aligns with our Jewish values.
Quick Facts:
- This session, we are working towards the passage of HB 12 by Representative Toni Rose of Dallas
- Last session, the Texas Legislature expanded Medicaid coverage for mothers after birth from 2 months to 6 months. However, the federal government would only give us money if it was extended to 12 months. This session, we are getting the 12 months of full coverage that we know makes the difference in maternal mortality rates.
- Expanding Medicaid for 12 Months will affect 5% of all births nation-wide
○ As of November 2022, approximately half of all births in Texas are Medicaid births (~170,000 births)
○ Texas accounts for 10% of all births nationally
- Maternal Mortality is a major issue in Texas, where we have one of the highest rates in the country: 14.6 women die for every 100,000 live births.
○ In 2022, the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee published their long-awaited report on pregnancy-related deaths in Texas. Here are some key findings:
■ 44% of Pregnancy-Associated deaths (deaths of pregnant women) were
pregnancy-related, meaning the deaths would not have happened if the
individual was not pregnant.
■ 90% of these deaths were preventable
Our Jewish Values lead us to support this work:
In the Talmud it states: “Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world” (Sanhedrin 37a). In Halakhah– Jewish law –the preservation of life (pikuach nefesh) trumps nearly every other commandment. Our Jewish values teach us that saving lives is our most sacred duty and we stand ready to fight so that may be here in Texas.