Medicaid fix would strengthen care of fragile babies in Washington

When a family is about to welcome a new baby, they are getting ready to take a giant leap.

As a neonatologist, I have the honor of working with an incredible team of medical professionals in Tacoma that at any given time is helping 65 families take that leap at Tacoma General Hospital and other neonatal intensive care units in the area.

The first days of a baby’s life can be challenging even when everything is going right, but when a baby is born very early or born full term with serious health concerns, they can be extraordinarily challenging.

That’s why I am hopeful our state Legislature will adopt a simple adjustment to Washington’s Medicaid system to help put our state on equal footing with others in support of high-quality patient care.

It is encouraging that the Senate and House budget proposals both include funding for this important increase in provider reimbursement rates, and I hope that this approach is realized in the final budget signed by Gov. Jay Inslee.

I’m originally from Kelowna, British Columbia, and started my medical career as a nurse at a neonatal intensive care unit in Hawaii. Inspired by my experience there, I took a giant leap of my own: I obtained a medical degree, completed pediatric residency and then a neonatal-perinatal fellowship.

I was fortunate to land in Tacoma where I can both be near my family and practice the highest level of patient care for newborns.

Conversations about our state’s Medicaid system often miss the point that at the center of the debate are real people, in my case, fragile babies.

Patient care in a neonatal ICU is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week responsibility. Premature babies and babies with health conditions require especially complex and critical care.

We reassure families that long-term outcomes for babies born early have improved dramatically over the past few decades and that our neonatologists will support their every need while they are in our care.

For example, we are looking forward to “graduating” an infant in our care who was born weighing less than 14 ounces. After almost five months of care in our unit, the child is ready to go home. Every family in need of our care will receive it.

The care of these babies in their first hours, days and months of life can determine their development into healthy, thriving children and adults. The standards are high and the requirements to best serve our newborn patients, many of whom spend their first days of life confronted with cardiac, intestinal and neurologic challenges, are rigorous.

We work very hard to recruit – and retain – the most experienced medical leaders to provide care in our facilities, and adjusting our state’s Medicaid system to support these services will help strengthen Washington’s Medicaid program.

There is no bigger moment in a family’s life than the day they welcome their newborn into the world. Our team stands ready to provide the highest level of care to ensure the best possible outcomes for Washington’s most fragile babies.

Dr. Serena Scott is corporate medical director of Multi-Care Neonatology Services and is a practicing neonatologist in Tacoma.