NASHP roundtable: Georgia and illinois work to improve maternal health outcomes

In partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) recently held a virtual roundtable discussion of state officials to discuss maternal health initiatives in Illinois and Georgia and explore strategies to improve maternal health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees. Despite spending more than other developed nations on hospital-provided maternity care, about 700 US women die each year from pregnancy-related complications. 

• Women of color have significantly higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and Black women are approximately four-times more likely than White women to die of pregnancy-related causes. 
• In comparison to women covered by private insurance, pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid have increased rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality and are more likely to have risk factors affecting their pregnancies.

In addition to tracking states’ initiatives to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage, NASHP offers a range of resources related to maternal health and healthy child development. (author introduction)