Maternal and Child Health Resource Repository

The Food and Drug Administration today withdrew approval for Makena and its generics, citing a confirmatory study that did not verify clinical benefit. Makena had been approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women pregnant with one baby who have a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

As we close out Women’s History Month, reflecting on the trailblazing women who have advanced modern medicine, and prepare for National Minority Health Month in April, we also should consider what we can do as health care professionals to create even more opportunities for women across our industry, particularly for women of color.

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Over 30 organizations, including the AHA, yesterday urged congressional appropriators to increase funding for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program to $738 million in fiscal year 2024. While the program trains half of the nation’s pediatricians and 60% of pediatric specialists, it currently receives just 2% of federal spending on graduate medical education.

The U.S. maternal mortality rate increased to 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 from 23.8 in 2020, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs will host a webinar March 17 at 12 p.m. ET to help advocates keep eligible women and children enrolled in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program when the COVID-19 public health emergency’s continuous enrollment requirement ends March 31.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (PL 117-328), signed into law in December 2022, contained a number of important maternal and child health provisions supported by the AHA.

Cris Daskevich, CEO and senior vice president, CHRISTUS Health, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, will serve as 2023 chair of the AHA Committee on Maternal and Child Health.

AHA comments on the CMS’ Request for Information on Essential Health Benefits (EHB).

States, territories, health facilities and tribal organizations can apply through March 27 for up to $525,000 million each for residential treatment programs to provide comprehensive services for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced.

According to the CDC, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths can be prevented; that’s a 20% increase from previous years. Know why? That’s the theme for today’s Maternal Health Awareness Day – Know Why. Maternal Health Awareness Day, Jan. 23, shines a light on the many complex factors contributing to maternal health deaths and amplifies promising initiatives to combat the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.

In recognition of Maternal Health Awareness Day, Aisha Syeda, senior program manager for AHA’s work on maternal health, highlights strategies health care organizations are spearheading to tackle the two leading causes of maternal deaths.

Only 16% of pregnant people who reported drinking alcohol in 2017 or 2019 were advised by a health care provider to stop or reduce their alcohol use, although 80% were asked about alcohol use during their most recent health care visit, suggesting missed opportunities to reduce alcohol use during pregnancy, according to a survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Emergency departments in the highest quartile of pediatric readiness based on National Pediatric Readiness Project standards have lower death rates for children with serious injury or illness than EDs in the lowest quartile, according to a federal study reported in JAMA Network Open.

States that expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income adults in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act reduced postpartum hospitalizations for low-income people, according to a study reported yesterday in Health Affairs, which compared 2010-2017 data from four states that expanded Medicaid and four that did not. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration today awarded nearly $60 million over five years to help 24 health care and educational organizations integrate mental health training into training for primary care clinicians, with a focus on preparing them to treat mental health needs in children and adolescents.

In a study reported yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine, children and adolescents previously diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) reported no serious complications after COVID-19 vaccination.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response Friday deployed a 14-member National Disaster Medical System team to the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital to help support staff caring for a surge in pediatric respiratory illnesses, such as flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

The Food and Drug Administration today authorized the Moderna and Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in children as young as 6 months old. Specifically, the agency authorized the Moderna vaccine as a single booster dose for children aged 6 months through 5 at least two months after primary vaccination, and the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 6 months through 4 who have not yet received the third primary series dose.

The House Friday voted 390-26 to approve bipartisan legislation (H.R.8876) that would reauthorize the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program and double annual funding for the program to $800 million over five years. The Ways and Means Committee advanced the legislation in September. Funding for the program lapses if the Senate does not take action before the current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 16.