HJAR Nov/Dec 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2024 39 Elizabeth Pitman Director of the Division of Medical Services Arkansas Medicaid tomaternal and postpartum care that exist in our state today, and to align around this set of meaningful solutions which promise tomake a real and positive difference in our state,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam. “We will act on these changes as quickly as possible because we know they have the potential to improve the health of countless women and babies, and to save lives.” The committee worked with stakehold- ers and divided into four subgroups, each of which provided recommendations within their respective focus areas: data, reporting, and technology; education and outreach; clinical and practice improvements; and healthcare access and Medicaid. “Medicaid pays for more than half of the pregnancies in our state, so it’s critical that we optimize the system so that care is avail- able and encouraged every step of the way before, during, and after birth,” said Janet Mann, DHS deputy secretary of programs and state medicaid director. “These recom- mendations put in place significant changes that will remove barriers, improve care, and lead to better health outcomes.” William “Sam”Greenfield, MD, ADHmedi- cal director for family health, serves on the Strategic Committee for Maternal Health and said the recommendations are a positive step toward improving maternal health across the state. “I am encouraged to see so many peo- ple from different sectors come together to address this issue,” he said. “As Chair of the Arkansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee, I can attest that the challenges surrounding maternal health are complex. This is a significant step that addresses spe- cific findings and needs in Arkansas. I am supportive of these recommendations and look forward to the role enactment will play in improving health outcomes for mothers in our state.” Recommendations in the report include developing a dashboard reporting key ma- ternal health indicators; evaluating Med- icaid reimbursement rates; implementing presumptive eligibility for Medicaid-eligi- ble pregnant women; creating a pathway for Medicaid provider types and reimbursements for both doulas and community health work- ers; expanding the number of obstetrics and gynecology residencies inArkansas; and de- veloping a maternal health education and advertising campaign. “As someone who has spent her career tak- ing care of Arkansas women, I am inspired by the many conversations this committee started and the actions we will take as a re- sult,” said Kay Chandler, MD, Arkansas sur- geon general. “It will take efforts frommany different groups across the state to move the needle, and I believe we’ve put together a road map to make that happen.” The report also details several activities that have already been completed or are underway, including holding stakehold- er meetings in five pilot counties that had high rates of women receiving no prenatal care, developing a Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model grant application, and reviewing several key Medicaid processes tied to maternal care. The full report is availableat humanservices. arkansas.gov/u/maternalhealth/. “We are proud to present these strategies and recommendations today,” said Renee Mallory, Arkansas secretary of health. “This report is the result of many meetings and listening sessions with stakeholders across the state. While we’ve already begun this important work, we look forward to continuing to enact solutions to improve the health and well-being of moms and babies in Arkansas.” n