In a recent op-ed in favor of the Patients First Act, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp highlighted the state’s poor record when it comes to infant mortality.
He wrote:
Multiple studies rank Georgia’s healthcare system as one of the worst in the nation. With high infant mortality rates, a medical provider shortage in rural Georgia, and lackluster healthcare outcomes, we cannot ignore the obvious.
I have written extensively about infant loss following the death of my son at an Atlanta hospital.
At first, I was excited to see the governor highlight a real problem, albeit an often-ignored one, facing the state. So, I decided to follow up with his communications team.
I had one pretty simple question. In an email, I asked:
My overarching question is: How specifically will the Patients First Act help solve the issue of the state’s high infant mortality rate?
His communications team has yet to respond.
If the Patients First Act does nothing to help reduce the state’s high infant mortality rate, why bother to mention it in an op-ed?