HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

38 NOV / DEC 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS MEDICAID COLUMN MEDICAID THE Strategic Committee for Maternal Health recently delivered a report to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders outlining recom- mended new policies, programs, and ap- proaches aimed at improving health out- comes for pregnant women, new moms, and babies. Gov. Sanders established the committee and initiated a six-month timeline to con- sider potential reforms when she signed the executive order to “Support Moms, Protect Babies, and Improve Maternal Health” on March 6, 2024. More than 100 stakeholders representing dozens of organizations across the state met to develop the recommenda- tions contained in the report. “As the first mom to lead Arkansas, ma- ternal health is personal. I’m not interested in headline-grabbing policies or duplicative government programs that don’t actually change maternal health outcomes. Instead, this Committee pursued a comprehensive, coordinated approach that will help healthier moms have healthier babies,”said Governor Sanders. “I’m grateful to all the stakeholders who participated in this discussion and I look forward to continuing our work to turn these ideas into action.” The Strategic Committee for Maternal Health included representatives from the Arkansas Department of Human Services, the Arkansas Department of Health, the Ar- kansas Department of Education, and the Arkansas Surgeon General. “We are incredibly grateful that so many partners came together to consider obstacles Maternal Health RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT