MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Governor Eric J. Holcomboffered the following statement after signing a Next Level Agenda bill thatwill implement two new initiatives that aim directly at reducing infantmortality: a navigator program to help guide high-risk pregnant women and aprogram to verbally screen all expecting mothers for substance-use disorder sothose who need it will be connected to treatment.

HEA 1007 Perinatal Care

“Thereare few — if any — things more important than protecting Hoosier babies andimproving the lives and health of their mothers. I’ve set the goal of makingIndiana the best state in the Midwest for infant mortality by 2024, and todaywe’re putting new tools in place to make sure more babies reach their firstbirthdays and more moms get connected to the treatment they need.”