The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named 14 states plus the District of Columbia to participate in the Transforming Maternal Health Model.
First announced in December 2023, the 10-year model aims to help mothers and children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through physical, mental and social guidance during and after pregnancy.
“The goal of this support is to improve maternal health care and birth outcomes while reducing associated health disparities,” the CMS said in a news release. “This support also enables states to develop a value-based alternative payment model for maternity care services which will improve quality and health outcomes and promote long term sustainability of services.”
The participating states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Each state receives up to $17 million over 10 years to be used on hiring new staff, creating new partnerships and more.
Access to midwives, doulas and perinatal community health workers is a priority of the model, as well as help for hospitals to earn the “Birthing-friendly” maternal health designation from the CMS. It will also bolster data collection through improved electronic health records, the agency said.
States are expected to begin implementing the model after three years. Individuals will be screened for perinatal depression, anxiety and substance use. Additional care will be given toward those with conditions like gestational diabetes and hypertension.
The model includes a health equity strategy, pushes states to extend Medicaid and CHIP postpartum coverage to 12 months and encourages partnerships with rural health centers. Health-related social needs will be screened to evaluate. Individuals can then be referred to community-based services for housing, transportation and food.