pregnancy

Amid the pandemic and quarantines, doulas — trained professionals who offer support to expectant mothers — noticed an increased interest in their services.

Top Senate and House budget negotiators met Wednesday but did not make public offers on health care spending.

The program would be required to use telehealth to coordinate with prenatal home-visiting programs to provide services and education to pregnant women and to provide training to health care professionals.

House Speaker Chris Sprowls wants to extend Medicaid coverage for mothers after giving birth from the current two months to a year.

For decades, new mothers in Florida without health insurance have been eligible for 60 days of Medicaid. This proposal would extend coverage up to a year.

In all, the plan would provide $244 million for benefits, which also include mental health counseling. Under current law, many people lose benefits 60 days after having children.

The bill, which drew emotional debate among subcommittee members. would involve situations in which doctors know a person is seeking an abortion because the fetus will have a disability.

The bill would allow babies up to 30 days old to be placed in a “newborn infant safety device” located on exterior walls of fire stations, emergency medical-services stations or hospitals.

The boxes were created so that mothers who are unable to care for a newborn can legally, safely and anonymously surrender their infant, helping to prevent illegal abandonment.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody says a company was pocketing money meant to cover medical costs for the couples.