In a move aimed at enhancing the quality of maternal and infant healthcare, the Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) has unveiled a novel initiative that will draw upon the collaboration of local entities to ensure its effective implementation. HCSC has outlined its intention to not only boost accessibility to healthcare providers and bridge existing gaps in healthcare but also to actively involve and educate residents about the well-being of mothers and infants. This innovative program is slated for deployment in the states where HCSC operates, including Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The pioneering endeavor is set to kick-start in Texas, a state known as the Lone Star State, according to HCSC. Chief Clinical Officer of HCSC, Dr. Monica Berner, emphasized that the program seeks to establish a strong partnership with respected community organizations and partners, tapping into their localized expertise and skills. This collaboration aims to foster healthier communities by channeling resources toward addressing societal needs.
Dr. Berner conveyed her heartfelt concern about the preventable loss of numerous pregnant women and infants, which the program aims to rectify. Disturbingly, maternal death rates in the United States reached a level in 2021 that had not been witnessed since 1964, as highlighted in a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The complexity of this issue implies that the intervention of employer-sponsored health insurance alone will be insufficient.
The significance of Medicaid comes to the fore, covering a substantial 42% of all births nationwide, as reported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The positive impact of Medicaid coverage is evident in its role in reducing pregnancy-related adverse events. In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, there was a 17% decrease in postpartum hospitalizations from 2010 to 2017.
However, concerns have arisen due to ongoing Medicaid eligibility determinations, leading to millions losing their coverage within the program. The process threatens to terminate coverage for approximately 15 million individuals who had gained Medicaid due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Additionally, the potential enactment of work requirements by Congress could strip an additional 1.7 million individuals of their Medicaid coverage.
The HCSC initiative, “Centering Pregnancy,” adopts a patient-centric approach, focusing on personalized care and support groups. This involves health assessments by clinicians followed by facilitated discussions, aiming to establish a community safety net for expectant and postpartum mothers. Notably, a study in The Lancet highlighted the elevated risks faced by women in the South, rural areas, and Black women in terms of maternal health, such as pregnancy-related adverse events and mortality.
To address the unique challenges faced by mothers whose newborns require care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), the program will offer a specialized app. NICUs pose not only health challenges for newborns and emotional distress for families but also substantial financial burdens for hospitals. A study in Health Services Insights uncovered the economic impact of NICU readmissions, revealing costs of $768,718 within 90 days, with extremely low-birth-weight babies incurring particularly high costs.
The HCSC Centering Pregnancy program also addresses the increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and cesarean deliveries resulting from untreated hypertension by focusing on maternal health.
