Moonshot Press Powering Democracy of Opportunity for All Our Citizens

At Moonshot Press, we believe in the power of an engaged and informed citizenry. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Reimagining Maternal Well-being initiative—a bold effort to address the maternal health crisis in the United States and transform how we think about health, care, and community. This initiative is a cornerstone of our broader Democracy of Opportunity moonshot, which aims to build a society where every individual has the foundation to thrive.

​

The initiative not only addresses the immediate challenges of maternal health but also introduces the First 1,000 Days of Life Project. Additionally, it serves as a testing ground for a new citizen-focused approach to engaging with federal regulatory processes.

The question driving this initiative is simple yet profound: How can we create a world where every mother and child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive?

​

Our Goals

​

The Reimaging Maternal Well-being initiative is about more than just policy updates. It’s about reshaping how we, as citizens, approach health and community involvement. Our primary goals are:

​

1. Enhancing Maternal and Infant Well-being: By focusing on the critical first 1,000 days of life—from preconception through a child's second birthday—we aim to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. This period is essential for establishing the foundation for lifelong health and a thriving life.

2. Empowering Civic Engagement: We aim to empower citizens to actively participate in shaping the policies that affect their lives. By engaging with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rulemaking process, we offer a practical way for citizens to influence healthcare policies and advocate for maternal and infant well-being.

3. Promoting Journalism that Strengthens Democracy: Through Moonshot Press, we are creating platforms for deliberative dialogue, offering tools to enhance citizen agency, and fostering a media environment that encourages active public participation. Our goal is to use journalism to empower individuals and communities to engage thoughtfully in democratic processes.

4. Leveraging Technology for Better Communication: We believe that technology, including artificial intelligence, can make regulatory information more accessible and understandable. By simplifying complex policies, we aim to foster greater understanding and engagement among citizens, ensuring that everyone can participate meaningfully in shaping the future of healthcare.

 

Why This Initiative Matters

​

The United States is facing a severe maternal health crisis, with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income countries. This crisis disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, revealing deep-seated disparities in our healthcare system. In response, the CMS has proposed new Standards for Obstetrical Services in Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals to improve the safety of maternal care.

​

While these regulations are a step forward, they mainly focus on hospital procedures. We believe that more comprehensive solutions are needed. Our initiative aims to leverage the CMS regulations as a starting point to rethink maternal health from the ground up, emphasizing the entire first 1,000 days of life.

By doing so, we can promote a holistic approach

to maternal and infant well-being, setting the stage

for thriving individuals and communities.

​

The Power of Public Participation

​

Public participation is the backbone of a healthy democracy. The CMS’s public comment period is a critical opportunity for citizens to engage directly in healthcare policymaking. Despite the significant impact of these regulations, public engagement in the rulemaking process is often limited and not well understood. Our initiative seeks to change this by making the regulatory process more accessible and promoting active citizen involvement.

We aim to engage the public in exploring the regulatory process and provide concrete suggestions for enhancing public engagement. By doing so, we can help shape policies that better reflect the needs and priorities of the community.

​

Our Focus Areas

​

Our approach goes beyond the traditional focus on disease prevention. We embrace a salutogenic approach, which actively promotes health and well-being by considering the broader social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health outcomes. Our key focus areas include:

​

1. The Maternal Health Crisis in Context: Understanding the complex factors impacting maternal health, including social determinants, racial disparities, and systemic inequities.

2. The Citizen in the Political Ecosystem: Encouraging active citizen participation in policy-making, highlighting the importance of personal agency in shaping healthcare policies.

3. Case Study: The Proposed CMS Regulations: Using the CMS’s proposed regulations on obstetric care to test our model for citizen engagement and explore broader implications for federal government regulation.

4. Government Regulations and Rulemaking: Demystifying the regulatory process to empower citizens and clarifying how individuals can effectively participate during the public comment period.

5. Public Comments and Crafting Our Response: Collecting diverse perspectives to develop a well-informed response to CMS, advocating for a salutogenic approach to maternal well-being.

6. Developing the Next Stage: Planning future initiatives to support maternal and infant health, building on momentum generated during the public comment period to drive lasting change.

 

What’s Next?

​

Our immediate focus includes understanding the broader factors contributing to maternal health issues, encouraging active citizen participation, using the CMS proposed regulations as a test case for our engagement model, and crafting a comprehensive response that prioritizes health and well-being.

​

We will consolidate public feedback and expert analysis to submit a detailed proposal to CMS. Beyond this, we are committed to developing a roadmap for ongoing advocacy and action over the next year, aiming to create a supportive and nurturing environment where every mother and child can thrive.

​

Join Us in Making a Difference

​

We’re embarking on this initiative with urgency and optimism. Over the coming weeks, we will publish articles, host interactive forums, and utilize advanced AI tools to engage a broad audience. Our goal is to make complex regulatory information clear and actionable, empowering more people to participate in shaping the future of maternal health.

Join us in this crucial effort. Your participation can help lay the foundation for a transformative year, one where health and well-being are attainable for all. Together, we can build a future where every mother and child has the opportunity to thrive.

​

Here’s how you can get involved:

​

• Stay Informed: Subscribe to Moonshot Press for updates, insights, and participation opportunities.

• Share Your Voice: Engage in our forums, webinars, and public comment submissions. Your experiences and ideas are invaluable.

• Spread the Word: Help us reach a wider audience by sharing information about this initiative within your networks.

• Provide Feedback: Offer insights on the Moonshot Press experiment and our approach to the Democracy of Opportunity.

 

Conclusion

The Reimagining Maternal Well-being initiative is not just about responding to regulations—it’s about redefining the future of maternal health in America. By experimenting with citizen engagement in the government regulation process, we can make this process more inclusive and effective. Working together, we can ensure every mother and child has the opportunity to thrive, creating a healthier, more equitable society for future generations.