To help reduce the increasing number of preterm births in America and ensure more babies are born healthy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $40 million in grants under the Strong Start initiative to test ways to reverse that trend, as well as a public campaign to reduce early elective deliveries.
"Preterm births are a growing public health problem that has significant consequences for families well into a child's life," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. "The Strong Start initiative will help give expectant mothers the care they need for a healthy delivery and a healthy baby."
More than half a million infants are born prematurely in America each year, a trend that has skyrocketed by 36% over the last 20 years. Children born preterm require additional medical attention and, in many cases, early intervention services and special education, and have conditions that may affect their productivity as adults.
To tackle this problem, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will award grants to healthcare providers and coalitions to improve prenatal care to women covered by Medicaid. The grants will support the testing of enhanced prenatal care through several approaches under evaluation, including through group visits with other pregnant women, at birth centers providing case management and at maternity care homes where pregnant women have expanded access to enhanced, better coordinated prenatal care.
In addition to preventable preterm births, the Strong Start initiative will also focus on reducing early elective deliveries, which can lead to a variety of health problems for mothers and infants. Up to 10% of all deliveries are scheduled as induced or surgical deliveries before 39 weeks that are not medically indicated.
Any early delivery, planned or spontaneous, can carry medical risks for mother and infant, according to HHS. According to research by organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes and others, elective deliveries before 39 weeks increase the risk of significant complications for mother and baby, as well as long-term health problems.
As part of the public awareness campaign, CMS will also work with hospitals across the country that have joined the Partnership for Patients. The partnership is a national, voluntary effort to improve safety and reduce avoidable harm, including obstetric harm that may stem from early elective deliveries.
"As a nurse, I know the importance of prenatal care and the risks associated with early deliveries," CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, RN, BSN, MHA, said in the news release. "Through Strong Start we hope to learn the most effective ways to prevent preterm births and to promote those activities across all providers as well as payers, public and private, to improve the health of all mothers and their infants."
The Strong Start initiative involves efforts from many agencies within HHS, including CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration on Children and Families.
HHS will also work with a variety of professional organizations, including the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the March of Dimes, ACOG and others.
In addition to health benefits, according to HHS, preventing preterm births can save money for the healthcare system. It is estimated that medical care in the first year of life for preterm babies covered by the Medicaid program averages $20,000 compared to $2,100 for full-term infants.
Medicaid pays for slightly less than half of the nation's births each year. Even a 10% reduction in deliveries occurring before 39 weeks would generate over $75 million in annual Medicaid savings.
Initial funding for Strong Start will be for the delivery and testing of enhanced prenatal care through renewable grants. The deadline to submit a letter of intent to apply for a grant is March 21, with the full application due June 13.
More information about the grants and the Strong Start program is available in a CMS fact sheet at http://go.cms.gov/x2ohsw.
"Preterm births are a growing public health problem that has significant consequences for families well into a child's life," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. "The Strong Start initiative will help give expectant mothers the care they need for a healthy delivery and a healthy baby."
More than half a million infants are born prematurely in America each year, a trend that has skyrocketed by 36% over the last 20 years. Children born preterm require additional medical attention and, in many cases, early intervention services and special education, and have conditions that may affect their productivity as adults.
To tackle this problem, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation will award grants to healthcare providers and coalitions to improve prenatal care to women covered by Medicaid. The grants will support the testing of enhanced prenatal care through several approaches under evaluation, including through group visits with other pregnant women, at birth centers providing case management and at maternity care homes where pregnant women have expanded access to enhanced, better coordinated prenatal care.
In addition to preventable preterm births, the Strong Start initiative will also focus on reducing early elective deliveries, which can lead to a variety of health problems for mothers and infants. Up to 10% of all deliveries are scheduled as induced or surgical deliveries before 39 weeks that are not medically indicated.
Any early delivery, planned or spontaneous, can carry medical risks for mother and infant, according to HHS. According to research by organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the March of Dimes and others, elective deliveries before 39 weeks increase the risk of significant complications for mother and baby, as well as long-term health problems.
As part of the public awareness campaign, CMS will also work with hospitals across the country that have joined the Partnership for Patients. The partnership is a national, voluntary effort to improve safety and reduce avoidable harm, including obstetric harm that may stem from early elective deliveries.
"As a nurse, I know the importance of prenatal care and the risks associated with early deliveries," CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, RN, BSN, MHA, said in the news release. "Through Strong Start we hope to learn the most effective ways to prevent preterm births and to promote those activities across all providers as well as payers, public and private, to improve the health of all mothers and their infants."
The Strong Start initiative involves efforts from many agencies within HHS, including CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration on Children and Families.
HHS will also work with a variety of professional organizations, including the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the March of Dimes, ACOG and others.
In addition to health benefits, according to HHS, preventing preterm births can save money for the healthcare system. It is estimated that medical care in the first year of life for preterm babies covered by the Medicaid program averages $20,000 compared to $2,100 for full-term infants.
Medicaid pays for slightly less than half of the nation's births each year. Even a 10% reduction in deliveries occurring before 39 weeks would generate over $75 million in annual Medicaid savings.
Initial funding for Strong Start will be for the delivery and testing of enhanced prenatal care through renewable grants. The deadline to submit a letter of intent to apply for a grant is March 21, with the full application due June 13.
More information about the grants and the Strong Start program is available in a CMS fact sheet at http://go.cms.gov/x2ohsw.
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