Collaborative Models Offer Hope for Improved Maternal and Infant Health

In the face of a growing maternal and infant health crisis, it is evident that no single entity can solve the problem.

Read Length: 6 Minutes

The following article is based on a recent webinar in which ProgenyHealth CEO, Susan Torroella MBA, and March of Dimes President and CEO, Elizabeth Cherot MD,MBA, met with Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) members to share how collaborative models have the potential to dramatically impact preventable maternal and infant health outcomes. If you couldn’t join us, you can still listen to this important conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eXU-ym_k

In a country where 56 million women (about twice the population of Texas) live in maternity deserts, and 2 women die each day from pregnancy-related causes, no single actor can change the maternal and infant health equation. Progress requires collaboration at every level, with providers, researchers, employers, government programs, and payers each taking an active role in ensuring that every family enjoys the healthiest start possible. If you find yourself wondering why there is such an emphasis on collaboration, simply look at the scale of America’s maternal and infant health crisis... 

The Facts

Startling statistics paint a grim picture of maternal and infant health: 

But the numbers don’t paint a complete picture. To do this, we look more closely at the upstream causes of these statistics. 

Driving Forces

It’s no secret regarding the driving forces behind the maternal and infant health crisis in the United States, namely:

• It's estimated that Social Determinants -- or Drivers -- of Health (SDoH) impact between 80-90% of health outcomes  
• About 29% of women have experienced discrimination while receiving maternity care, with rates increasing based on race 
• Nearly one-quarter of U.S. women do not receive timely or recommended prenatal care 

The list doesn’t end there. Maternity care deserts, lack of family planning services, and systemic bias contribute significantly to the maternal and infant health crisis.  

A Quick Case Study: ProgenyHealth in Florida: 

So, what does true collaboration look like? ProgenyHealth’s work with a Florida Medicaid plan serves as a good example: 

• ProgenyHealth provides a fully integrated Maternity & NICU Care Management program - from pregnancy, through delivery (including a NICU admission) to 12 months post-delivery 
• Our team coordinates with Florida’s Healthy Start program that shares member risk data and provides home visits as needed 
•  The health plan has contracts with a lactation partner and doula network, and we integrate their services into our case management workflows 
• Our team connects with the health plan’s Behavioral Health team to help accelerate appointments or handle crisis situations 
• We connect members to Community Based Organizations and state/county resources to solve issues related to social drivers of health 

Closing the Loop 

The ProgenyHealth experience of collaborating with multiple organizations has led to three key insights: 

1. It is vital to make maternal and infant health a core corporate priority by demonstrating commitment from every department and setting the stage to drive positive change.  
2. Full transparency and trust are other key factors in collaborative efforts.  
3. Lastly, successful collaboration demands a joint effort and active engagement from all parties. By sharing resources and expertise, organizations can create the synergy necessary to make a significant impact.  

This level of coordination can be daunting, but in ProgenyHealth’s experience, when maternal and infant health become a core priority, partners work together more effectively and leverage one another's strengths. All stakeholders provide equal measures of effort, delivering healthier outcomes -- one pregnant individual, infant and family at a time. 

News we are Making:  

We've been published! Check out our recent media placements.

• Physicians Practice: The Rise of Virtual Prenatal and Postpartum Healthcare

#ICYMI:  

This month, in her role as a March of Dimes Trustee, our Founder and Executive Chairwoman, Dr. Ellie Stang met with members of Congress as part of MoD’s #Marchforchange, aimed at solving our nation’s maternal and infant health crisis.

Before You Go:  

Visit ProgenyHealth.com to learn how we can change the maternal and infant health narrative and subscribe to our newsletter today.