"“Since the pandemic, we have seen the cost of diapers go up by 45%,” said Newsom, speaking at a press conference in San Francisco. “One out of four families skip meals to pay for diapers.”"
"The new program, dubbed the Golden State Start, will launch this summer. Participating hospitals will distribute the diapers to families at the time of discharge. Forty million diapers will be distributed during the program's first year, with a goal of later expanding the program to provide 160 million."
"Newsom said the state will prioritize hospitals that serve large numbers of parents enrolled in Medi-Cal, California's version of the federal Medicaid program providing healthcare coverage to low-income Americans. The state plans to later expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers."
"“We are not imitating; we are a model to others,” he said. Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said the initiative would help families enjoy their first few weeks at home with a new baby."
California will launch the Golden State Start program this summer to provide 400 free diapers to every newborn through participating hospitals. Diaper prices have risen 45% since the pandemic, and one in four families skips meals to afford them. The state plans to distribute 40 million diapers in the first year, prioritizing hospitals serving large numbers of Medi-Cal parents. The program will distribute diapers at discharge, helping families during the first weeks at home. California also plans to expand the effort to additional hospitals and birthing centers, with a longer-term goal of distributing 160 million diapers statewide.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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