Tennessee lawmaker: Pay expectant moms for checkups

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Republican state lawmaker is proposing paying expectant mothers to have prenatal checkups, starting in Memphis.

Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown said he would like to make such a program statewide, but thought it would have a better chance of beginning as a pilot project, according to The Commercial Appeal.

Kelsey proposed paying pregnant women $50 per doctor visit for checkups as a way to reduce infant mortality. He said Shelby County, which includes Memphis, is a logical starting place because it led the state in infant deaths in 2009 with 187.

"It's really, really tragic what is going on here in our city," he said. "I want to be part of the solution."

Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle - a Memphis Democrat - said he had never heard of such a concept and wasn't certain potential recipients might not think it offensive.

"I'm not sure if someone would view it as being offensive: 'Are they saying I wouldn't get the care without the money?' or if they'd say: 'I could use the $50,'" Kyle said.

Shelby County Health Department director Yvonne Madlock said the idea is worthy of consideration.

Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy, director of the Newborn Center at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, said studies show that there is less risk of prematurity and low birth weight when mothers make regular prenatal visits.

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