Lawmakers Take Step To Reduce State's Infant Mortality Rate

The House unanimously passed legislation Tuesday it hopes will help reduce Indiana’s infant mortality rate, one of the worst in the country.  

It’s called the Safety PIN bill, standing for Protecting Indiana’s Newborns. It creates a grant program, run by the State Department of Health, for organizations seeking to reduce the state’s infant mortality rate. 

Evansville Republican Rep. Holli Sullivan sponsored the bill, which she says is purposefully non-specific regarding what types of programs applicants must have.

“The wisdom behind House Bill 1004 is that it provides for maximum flexibility to allow grantees to find unique and innovative ways to reduce infant mortality while ensuring accountability in the form of outcomes-based funding,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan says applicants must include a mortality rate reduction goal in their proposal, and much of the money is held back until they meet that goal.  House Republicans provided $13.5 million for the program in their proposed budget.  The bill now heads to the Senate.