While most of us were focused on family and celebration during the holidays, the US Senate was sneaking by a Christmas Eve-morning-before-the-cock-crows vote on the Healthcare Reformbill. It passed.
As it turns out, the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mothers Act wasindeed among the provisionsin the bill that was passed. So, since the MBSMAhas now beenincluded in both the House and Senate healthcare bills, it looks like the act will pass if healthcare reform passes. No matter how you feel about healthcare reform, it would be a blessing to women aroundthe country if the MBSMAbecomes law. Thanks so much to Susan Stone for writing about this in detail at Perinatal Pro, forkeeping such close track of this important legislation and for being such a vocal proponent. Also thanks to Senator Menendez for never giving up on getting the MBSMA passed by the Senate, Representative Bobby Rush for getting it passed in the House and Carol Blocker for getting this all started in the first place.
Susan, and Helen Crawford, have been busting their assess getting as many signatures as possible in front of the Congress so that they can see how many people support increased research into the causes of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, and support increased services for women who suffer. If you haven't signed the petition yet, please do! Here's how to do it.
