COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran have launched a new program aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers, infants, and families covered by Medicaid. The program, called Comprehensive Maternal Care (CMC), is a community-based, statewide program that was announced in September 2022 as part of Governor DeWine’s Bold Beginning: Healthy, Supported Families initiative.
“Giving all Ohioans the best possible start at life truly begins before a child is even born and that means ensuring the child’s family has access to the resources they need,” said Governor DeWine. “Personalized access to those supports from trusted community partners and high-quality, responsive care that focuses on patients lead to better, healthier outcomes for mothers, babies, and their families.”
The CMC program creates a framework for providers and community partners to work together to develop person-centered, customized interventions to support women and families who have historically lacked ready access to high-quality responsive care before and after pregnancy. Obstetrical practices that participate in the program are required to measure and engage with patients and families through advisory councils or other means to hear firsthand accounts of how access to care, cultural competence, and communication methods affect patient outcomes.
Additionally, the program uses an innovative payment structure, and financially rewarding maternal care providers to address patient and family needs across the entire cycle of childbearing – prenatal, birth, and postnatal. Ohio Medicaid estimates investing $5 million in CMC by the end of its first year, reaching over 14,000 pregnant and postpartum patients and enrolling 77 medical practices that are currently caring for pregnant and postpartum patients.
For more information about the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Comprehensive Maternal Program, visit: https://medicaid.ohio.gov/families-and-individuals/citizen-programs-and-initiatives/maternal-and-infant-support/maternal-and-infant-support