Maternal and Child Health Resource Repository

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released new webinars and tools to support state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies and their partners in efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

By expanding communication with patients and families throughout the continuum of care, Children’s Wisconsin sees a higher engagement of family caregivers in their children’s health, leading to fewer visits to the ED and a decrease in avoidable readmissions.

The AHA invites hospitals and health systems to participate in the Better Maternal Outcomes Improvement Sprint, a free, six-week program focused on reducing harm from hypertension.

An action plan released this month by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employs a holistic approach and targets uncontrolled hypertension

The 115 undersigned national organizations dedicated to improving maternal health urge you to swiftly pass the bipartisan Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (H.R. 4995) and the bipartisan Helping MOMS Act of 2020 (H.R. 4996) as soon as possible – whether as part of the next spending package or another appropriate legislative vehicle before the end of the 116th Congress. Final passage of H.R. 4995 and H.R. 4996 is a critical and foundational next step in Congress’ work to address maternal mortality and improve maternal health.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality announced two winners of its $50,000 cross-sectional innovation prize to improve rural postpartum mental health: St. Peter's Health in Helena, Mont., for its maternal mental health program that identifies at-risk individuals and connects women to resources and appropriate care early in pregnancy; and Pack Health in Birmingham, Ala., for its digital health coaching program to address postpartum depression.

The AHA and 114 other national organizations urged leaders from the House and Senate to swiftly pass the bipartisan Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (H.R. 4995) and the bipartisan Helping MOMS Act of 2020 (H.R. 4996).

Letter from AHA and other national organizations to congressional leaders urging passage of two maternal health quality improvement bills.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the Geographic Direct Contracting Model (known as “Geo”) through which participants will take responsibility for the total cost of care for a portion of all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in a specific region.

March of Dimes’ Implicit Bias Training, called “Awareness to Action: Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare™ ,” is a unique in-person or virtual learning experience that provides authentic, compelling content for health care providers caring for women before, during and after pregnancy.

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking input on the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Strategic Plan.

A recent released report from the Commonwealth Fund attributes the high rate of maternal mortality in the United States to two principal factors.

In this podcast, we discuss the benefits of March of Dimes’s implicit bias training program titled, Breaking through Implicit Bias in Maternal Health Care.

As we celebrate National Rural Health Day on Nov. 19, it’s important to recognize the work rural hospitals are doing to improve access to maternal care for mothers living in rural communities, writes Priya Bathija, AHA’s vice president of strategic initiatives.

Brookings Health System established the state’s first free doula program for delivery and postpartum care, staffed by volunteers. The nine-year old program also receives high marks from patients and hospital staff.

As we celebrate National Rural Health Day on Nov. 19, it’s important to recognize the work rural hospitals are doing to improve access to maternal care for mothers living in rural communities, writes Priya Bathija, AHA’s vice president of strategic initiatives.

More than 700 women die from pregnancy- and delivery-related complications every year, with thousands more suffering from severe health problems related to pregnancy, write AHA’s Robyn Begley, R.N., senior vice president and chief nursing officer and CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, and Priya Bathija, vice president of strategic initiatives, who note that such deaths are disproportionately affecting communities of color due to implicit biases and disparities.

There are so many statistics being shared related to maternal mortality in the United States — but what is the real story?

Pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely than their non-pregnant counterparts to be admitted to an intensive care unit, receive invasive ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or die, according to a study of 461,825 women with symptomatic COVID-19 released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are some disparities associated with maternal and child health in your community? What are the root causes of these disparities? Explore how hospitals, health systems and their community partners are joining forces to examine and address disparities in maternal care, ultimately increasing access to equitable care and improving health outcomes.