Introducing Laurie Pohutsky. 0:08

Introducing Laurie Pohutsky, 17th district Michigan House of Representatives.

Maternal and infant health.

What can the government do to better support parents? 2:54

Doula and birth center expansion in Michigan.

The most important issue facing new families.

The availability of resources in Michigan.

The double standard for private and public insurance.

The lack of postpartum support for new parents. 7:32

Lack of postpartum support for families.

The six-week gap in health care.

How do you see the relationship between maternal health and early parenting? 9:56

The relationship between maternal health and early parenting.

High infant mortality rate in the United States.

What does prenatal care look like for different communities? 11:40

Understanding what prenatal care looks like for different communities.

Understanding why people choose doulas or midwives.

What is the future of birth like? 13:59

How midwifery is different than an obstetrician.

The global pandemic and the birth center.

Department of health and human services and Medicaid reimbursement.

Maternal and infant health crisis.

Doula support is not about making $1.50 an hour. 18:37

Critic of accepting Medicaid insurance for payment.

Good quality care comes from good quality care.

Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky introduces herself. 20:36

Introducing Laurie Pohutsky, Speaker Pro Tempore, Michigan House of Representatives.

Laurie's background.

Doula reimbursement rates aren’t sustainable. 22:14

Reimbursement rates for doulas in Michigan are horrible.

Lack of care and lack of support.

How Medicaid paying for doula services perpetuates poverty.

The Michigan family doula movement.

Link: Michigan Family Doulas

Speaker Pro Tempore Laurie Pohutsky is serving her third term representing the 17th House District, which encompasses parts of Northwest Detroit, North Redford Charter Township and Northeast Livonia. She is a long-time activist and volunteer, and spent time as a crisis hotline volunteer and a caregiver at Angela Hospice.

Pohutsky graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in microbiology. While a student at MSU, she took part in community outreach activities and protests at the Capitol. These experiences instilled a deep interest in politics and demonstrated the importance of ensuring everyone has a voice in government.

After college, Pohutsky worked in the fields of food safety, toxicology and health care. She brings this knowledge, along with her experience in water quality testing, with her to the Michigan House of Representatives. She has a deep commitment to bringing a scientific perspective to government and advocating for environmental causes.

Pohutsky is a member of the Livonia Democratic Club and is active in Michigan United. She lives in Livonia with her rescue pets.

Transcripts: The State of our Health Care System with Mich Rep Laurie Pohutsky