Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled on Thursday a proposal aimed to combat maternal and infant mortality rates in New York.

The governor said she will introduce legislation that would expand the state's paid family leave policy to include 40 hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments – making New York the first state in the nation to establish statewide coverage for prenatal care.

It would also enable the state commissioner of health to issue a "standing order" allowing New Yorkers to utilize doula services without a referral from a physician.

Hochul announced the plans to a crowd of mothers and their newborn children.

"We are now double the rate of our peer countries in terms of both infant mortality and maternal mortality," Hochul said. "Our data shows that prenatal care makes all the difference. It improves the odds dramatically of having a healthy pregnancy. You see your doctor more regularly, you're going to have a healthy baby."

The plan also calls for eliminating cost-sharing – including co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs – for pregnancy-related benefits for any New Yorker enrolled in the Essential Plan, New York's basic health plan, or Qualified Health Plans.

Hochul also proposed to direct the Department of Health to launch new initiatives to reduce the rate of unnecessary C-sections, including new oversight measures to identify physicians whose behavior is out of line with clinical best practices.

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said that topic hits home.

"I know the trauma first hand. Six years ago a New York City hospital turned me away as my unborn child was protruding out of me — three centimeters dilation with contractions and other medical complications and all they did was cite hospital policy," she explained. "And they said they could not help me, nor try to save me. Their solution was to terminate my baby."

Bichotte Hermelyn has been a chief sponsor of maternal healthcare measures in the state legislature.

The state would also train counselors answering the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on issues related to maternal mental health, postpartum depression and anxiety. 

In addition, the state would provide funding for the distribution of portable cribs for under resourced New Yorkers at no cost to combat sleep-related infant deaths. The cribs would be available to families through local county departments of social services and other local organizations. 

“Make no mistake: we are facing a maternal and infant mortality crisis,” Hochul said. “As New York’s first mom governor, this is personal to me. We are committed to tackling this crisis head-on with policies that lift up parents and children throughout the State of New York.” 

Recent CDC statistics revealed an increase in infant mortality for the first time in over two decades. 

Hochul's announcement is part of her State of the State address in which she lies out legislative priorities for this year. She will give that address on Tuesday in the state Assembly chamber in Albany.

State lawmakers returned to Albany on Wednesday to begin the 2024 legislative session.