Arkansas awarded $17 million grant to support maternal health initiatives

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) ago 31 views 

Arkansas has been awarded a $17 million grant, the Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Human Services announced Monday (Jan. 6).

Applying for the TMaH grant was among the recommendations made by the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health established by Gov. Sarah Sanders’ executive order last year. The funds will support efforts to improve the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and babies, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) said.

The grant will provide the funding over 10 years to several state Medicaid agencies, including Arkansas, with a goal of reducing disparities in access and treatment.

“Pursuing this grant was one of the first major recommendations of the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health I convened, and it will facilitate much of the rest of our work to increase the maternal care workforce, invest in technology and research to help new moms, and connect expecting moms with health care providers in all corners of the state,” said Gov. Sanders.

“We are grateful for the support from our federal partners as we work to implement changes that will improve maternal health outcomes in Arkansas,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam. “This grant announcement builds on the momentum that began last year with the Governor’s Executive Order on maternal health, and the subsequent recommendations developed by a tremendous coalition of partners, stakeholders, and other supporters. We are proud to lead the way on key reforms that further these initiatives, and excited that this significant grant will bolster our efforts.”

The grant is built on three main pillars: Access to care, infrastructure, and workforce capacity; Quality improvement and safety; and Whole-person care delivery. Specific investments planned in Arkansas with these funds include:

  • Analyzing data to better target maternal health services.
  • Educating providers and pregnant women on the benefits of leveraging doulas, Community Health Workers, and midwives.
  • Investing in technology to better serve pregnant women and providers.
  • Building better technology infrastructure to collect and share data tied to maternal health measures.
  • Redesigning Medicaid reimbursement rates and payment structures, including a focus on incentive payments to providers whose patients have healthier outcomes.
  • Improving connections between health care providers and community-based organizations like nonprofits and faith-based groups that also serve low-income Arkansas women.

“This grant and our state’s ongoing commitment will transform how we approach maternal health,” said Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Secretary Renee Mallory. “Arkansas is devoted to improving maternal health outcomes and ensuring every mother and child has the support they need. This grant is a significant step toward meeting the state’s vision and goals prioritized by the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health. Together, we will work to ensure healthier futures for families across our state.”

DHS will lead the project in coordination with ADH and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). DHS Deputy Secretary for Programs and State Medicaid Director Janet Mann will manage the grant efforts.

“Over the last year, we have directed significant resources to addressing gaps in care for pregnant women, new mothers, and babies, and we remain committed to finding solutions that will improve and save lives,” said Mann. “This grant is an important next step, and I know that this project will be a key driver in helping Arkansas become a leader in maternal health.”