The United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group, will be awarding more than $7 million in new grants to increase access to maternal and infant health care.
The grants are also expected to address gaps in care for women and children and to grow and support the doula workforce in Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico and Wisconsin.
In making the announcement, the foundation cited America's Health Rankings Maternal & Infant Health Disparities Data Brief and America's Health Rankings 2024 Health of Women and Children Report, which show that maternal mortality increased 34% between 2014-2018, and between 2018-2022.
Nationally, infant mortality remains persistently high at 5.5 deaths per 1,000 births, with significant differences across population groups, data showed.
Dr. Lisa Saul, national medical director of maternal child health, UnitedHealthcare, said these statistics reveal care gaps that highlight a critical need in the healthcare system.
"Our commitment to improving health outcomes is essential to our mission of helping people live healthier lives and helping make the health system work better for everyone," she said.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
The grants include $2 million to South Georgia Healthy Start, housed at Mercer University School of Medicine, to build on the program's success in reducing the infant mortality rate by expanding prenatal and postpartum services, doubling the number of health promotion activities and supporting the provision of essential baby and maternal outcomes.
Additionally, $1.5 million will go to Meta House in Milwaukee to increase specialized healthcare services care for pregnant, postpartum and parenting women experiencing substance-use disorder.
Another $1.5 million will go toward La Clinica de Familia in Las Cruces to expand prenatal and gynecologic services to more health centers in southern New Mexico.
The foundation is also committing $1 million to five nonprofits focused on growing the doula workforce: HealthConnect One, Just Birth Space, Atlanta Doula Collective, New Mexico Doula Association and the African American Breastfeeding Network.
THE LARGER TREND
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has also focused on doulas over the past few months. Last fall, the organization launched a pilot program with Accompany Doula Care meant to help address racial inequities and improve maternity and birthing care across Massachusetts by pairing eligible members with a birth doula, which Blue Cross said can significantly reduce cesarean and premature deliveries and improve health outcomes.
According to Blue Cross' latest Health Equity Report, Black women, in particular, are disproportionately affected by severe maternal morbidity, having a higher percentage of childbirths with potentially life-threatening complications compared with other populations.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.