May 30th was a big day for Maddie’s Place. Excitement was high. Anticipation was in the air. Everyone was eager to see how this day could change the course of the future of Maddie’s Place. There was much at stake.
May 30th was the day that Senator Patty Murray visited Maddie’s Place for the very first time. She was joined by several members of her staff as well as Representative Marcus Riccelli, a long time supporter of Maddie’s Place who secured us the $5.5 million Pilot Program, without which we would not be open.
Senator Murray has always been a strong advocate for the lives of children, youth, and families struggling in addiction. In 2018, she sponsored the SUPPORT and CRIB Acts, two laws which provided for the federal portion of funding by Medicaid for pediatric transitional care facilities like Maddie’s Place.
In fact, the CRIB Act originally passed with a facility like ours (Brigid’s Path in Ohio) in mind. Maddie’s Place President/CEO Shaun Cross worked closely with Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers to make sure it became a law.
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown introduced the act, his official website stating:
“Brown’s CRIB Act would help newborns suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a withdrawal condition often caused by the use of opioids and other addictive substances in pregnant women.
The bill would allow Medicaid to cover certain health care services provided to infants in residential pediatric recovery facilities in addition to hospitals and also clarify that babies receiving services in residential pediatric recovery centers can continue to receive services after one year of age, and provide for activities to encourage caregiver-infant bonding” (“Brown’s Crib Act Headed to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law”).
Amazing, right? You’d think that Maddie’s Place would fall into this category too– that our services would be covered by Medicaid.
However, it wasn’t until a few months after opening our doors in October 2022 that the state formally took the position that our services were not covered by the state’s Medicaid program. For the last 16 months, we have been operating off charitable donations and the funding provided by our state Pilot Project.
Shocking, right? But that’s why we called in reinforcements.
You could feel the excitement in the room as Senator Murray arrived. She warmly shook hands with everyone present before she was whisked away for a tour of our facility.
This tour felt different than the others given at Maddie’s Place. For one, the Senator’s security required a detailed agenda for the visit, meaning that we had a bit of a script to keep to. Then there were the nerves of anticipation and excitement. Everyone knew how important it was that Senator Murray was with us, and everyone wanted it to go as smoothly as possible.
It was inspiring to observe Senator Murray witnessing the life changing work happening within our doors. The highlight was showing her our two nurseries. We all watched earnestly as she took in the calm and home-like spaces, laying eyes on the sweet babies resting in the arms of our nurse, infant care specialists, and cuddlers. We all listened closely as our founder, Tricia Hughes, explained our holistic approach to caring for these newborns. We leaned in closer as Cross explained Washington State’s decision that our services would not be covered by Medicaid.
This was to the senator’s surprise. She had no idea that the CRIB Act was not working. She had no idea that only one out of United State’s fifty had amended their Medicaid plan. I could see the wheels turning in her brain and the notes she mentally took as she mulled over possible change.
To finish her visit, Senator Murray held a round table discussion. She wanted to hear especially from three of our former parents to understand their struggle with addiction and how Maddie’s Place offered hope when they had none. While many had heard their stories before, the tears in the eyes of those around the room were testimony to the power of a changed life.
And just like that, we were almost out of time. We wrapped up quickly with some further discussion on the ways Senator Murray could help us, we took a picture, and she was gone.
It was a whirlwind of a meeting. It boosted morale and incited celebration at the thought that some real change could be implemented in our state for the innocent lives of babies suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome.
We get an abundance of comments on social media that read, “We need something like this in Texas!” or “How can I get this started in my home state?” While it is heartbreaking that this need spreads so wide, we can’t help but feel encouraged knowing that real change is churning on the horizon– and Senator Murray could be the beginning of a solution.
Questions? Suggestions? Email me at emma.jones@maddiesplace.org
This blog was posted on June 14, 2024.